| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this research was to investigate the positive and negative factors affecting K.C.P.E performance in Mtito-Andei Division All those interviewed agreed that there were declining standards of education in this division On transfer of school head teachers, about 86.6% agreed that there has been an unnecessary internal transfer of school headteachers within the division. Nearly 100% of all headteachers indicated that they also did classroom teaching. Most of the head teachers and deputy headteachers (100%) confirmed that pupils were provided with lunch and breakfast by the World Feeding Programme.
About 43% of respondents revealed that in the last five years, they have had cases of indiscipline in their schools. Most of the school head teachers (70%) disagreed that they ever used corporal punishment in case of minor or major offenses About 43% indicated that there were no successful guidance and counseling facility. Nearly 100 % of all school headteachers and deputies have agreed that pupils were involved in co curriculum activities (sports, drama, music etc) and that remedial or extra coaching for the poor candidates was done. Curriculum evaluation process was done regularly and that pupils exercise books were marked regularly and that teachers were following the current K.IE. syllabus strictly About 43% of the school headteachers indicated that they were
not conversant with Education Act 21 I and Education Act 212. Most of the school heads (100%) confirmed that they were conversant with educational policies.
Nearly 100 % of all headteachers confirmed that the drop out rate was below 25 %. On physical facilities, 100 % of all headteachers and deputy headteachers indicated that there were not enough physical facilities (classrooms, desks, school libraries) in their schools. Nearly 100
% of all the school headteachers confirmed that it was the parents who provided the physical facilities for their schools. On supervision and inspection, respondents indicated that external supervision and inspection of schools has been poor. On staff qualifications specialization and professionalization, 66% of all school headteachers and deputy headteachers revealed that no teacher was ever promoted in their schools.
About 56.6 % indicated that under staffing was quite severe in their schools. On the category of teachers, about 88.3% of the teaching staff comprised of T S C. teachers, but schools still had untrained teachers (5.1 %). Teachers workload was still very high 88 % of teachers had a workload of between 30 and 40 lessons per week. About 82% of all teachers, were local residents. On professional qualifications, the dominant grade was PI (677%) but there were P2 teachers (69%) and ATS (534%). On academic qualifications most teachers were KC.S.E levels (90.5%) although the other levels also exists, for example KlSE (6%) K.A.C.E. (3.93 %). Community support
was too minimal. The data shows that 83.33% of most parents were only fairly supportive. Infact about 65.02% of all parents were peasant small scale farmers. On parents' education, 15% were illiterate and another 41.5% were between Std 1 and Std 8.
On school levies (user charges), 100% of all head teachers and deputy headteachers agreed that, it was devastating effect on KC.P.E performance. The constant sending away of pupils has affected performance largely. The interview with class 8 teachers, the study revealed that, KI.E syllabus was strictly followed and that they prepared schemes of work Nearly all of them (100%) accepted that they prepared daily lesson plans and attended all classes. They agreed that they marked pupils' exercise books and thus gave sufficient homework About 66% indicated that there were no enough textbooks.
They agreed that they did remedial teaching to the poor candidates and that holiday coaching was done. About 53.3% revealed that, there were no specialized guidance and counseling. All of them (100%) said that they were happy with their teaching profession. About 20% said that they were not comfortable with the workload (lessons) .
The interview with class 8 parents' representatives; the data revealed that 100% agreed that there were declining standards of education in this region and that they were aware that their schools were not performing KC.P.E examination to their expectation About 100% agreed that they supported their schools financially. About 100%
indicated that they paid their teachers for any extra coaching given to their children and that they bought their children textbooks to supplement the school ones. The data indicated that 40% provided a suitable atmosphere at home for reading and also perused their children's exercise books to find out about their class assignment progress report. The report showed that 66 6% were happy with their headteachers where as still
26.6% of the parents were not happy with their headteachers The study also revealed that 26.6% of the parents rewarded those teachers whose subjects were well performed in K.C.P.E while another 26.6% did not reward them.
The interview with the school chairpersons and treasurers revealed that most of the school chairpersons were aged (between 51 and 80 years) probably retirees or had never had formal employment at anyone time of their life time and consequently lacked exposure which was supposed to give them experience in the schools management The study also revealed that most chairpersons were either illiterate or semi-literate, majority of them ranging between Std 1 and Std 8.
Another interesting finding was that most of the chairpersons had remained dominantly the chairpersons for not less than seven years Some say that, they had stayed even for twenty years. The study revealed that the kinds of levies (user charges) required by schools were very many ego watchman's salary, cook's salary, development funds and office maintenance etc. The interview with the AEO/ZIS/TAC Tutors
confirmed that there was declining standards of education in this division, The data indicated that some schools had been performing poorly since
1998 in KCP,E.The study revealed that only 55% carried out regular supervision and inspection of their schools and that transfer of headteachers for the last five years was done, The study revealed that 55.5% of the field officers had no official means of transport for supervision and inspection of schools, On dealing with the headteachers who did not meet the educational standards as expected by the stakeholders, the data indicated that they were either demoted or retained in those schools awaiting further action or more trials, On professional qualifications, the data indicated that most education officers were SIs with a few ATS, The data also revealed that most education officers had only gone up to form 4, there is hardly any form 6 (A- Level).
It was concluded that most schools were poorly equipped and they lacked essential physical facilities, which were necessary for learning, It was also concluded that some schools were staffed with more lady teachers than male teachers and therefore imbalance of gender in schools, It was also concluded that the majority of parents were poor and most chairpersons and treasurers were illiterate or semi-literate.
It was recommended that transfer of headteachers should be minimal to allow for long term plans. It was also recommended that the government and NGOs should help parents to equip schools with physical facilities. It was also recommended that teachers be encouraged and given scholarships to further their education
It was suggested that the study should be done on the same area
and extended to cover more schools in Makueni District. It was further suggested that the study on the role ofT AC Tutors should be done | en |
