The impact of availability of educational resources on pupils' cognitive achievement in public primary schools in Bureti District, Rift Valley Province

Abstract

The primary stage of education is the most important for every child since it is here that basic knowledge is given to the child and foundation for an economically productive and satisfying life are laid. For this to be realized there is need to provide essential educational resources effectively and equitably to all schools in order to facilitate effective teaching and learning. The quantity and quality of physical facilities, human resources and instructional materials that are available in the schools determine the quality of education that the children experience.

The study endeavore(d to give a survey on the availability of education resources and their impact on pupils' performance in Bureti District. The study was guided by the research questions that were set to establish the availability of the physical facilities, the human resources and the instructional materials, and whether all these have an effect on pupils'

performance. The target population.

was all the public primary

schools in Bureti District. The sample comprised of 36

randomly selected schools. 36 head teachers were reached across the 5 divisions in the District.

The selected design for the study was ex-post facto. Head teachers' questionnaire and an observation schedule were used to gather data. The study assumed that the available education resources affect pupils' performance. The study further assumed that the respondents would be available and respond to the questions objectively. The collected data was then analyzed using statistical measures such as frequencies, percentages and averages. The research findings indicate a positive relationship between availability of physical resources, human resources, instructional materials and pupils' performance. ~

Recommendations given include initiation of income generating projects for extra money for repairs and school development. Suggestions for further research include replication of the study using a larger sample or in another district, and more research to be conducted in the same

district so as to investigate other factors that may be causing the persistent poor pupils' performance across the district.