Determinants of the implementation of Christian Religious Education Curriculum in public Secondary schools in Migori District, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of the implementation of Christian Religious Education curriculum in public secondary schools in Migori district .The descriptive survey design was used in the study. The research objectives were used to develop the research instruments. Questionnaire and interview schedule were used to collect the data. The questionnaire was administered on the form 3 and 4 CRE students and the CRE teachers. While the interview schedule was administered to the Headteachers. The information was collected from 220 students 42 CRE teachers and 14 headteachers from sampled public secondary schools in the district.

The analysis from the pilot study indicated that the instruments had reliability co-efficient of 0.72. The questionnaire return rate by teachers and head teachers was 100% while that of students was 99%. The main fmdings of the study were that 73.8% of teachers had not attended inservice courses hence teachers were not updated on the current trends and changes in implementing the CRE curriculum. It was also revealed that there was a limitation in the resources available for the implementation of CRE in secondary school. The researcher also found that both the students and teachers had positive attitude towards CRE as a subject in secondary schools. This impacted on performance in KCSE.

On the basis of the fmdings from this study and the conclusions drawn the following recommendations were pointed out which could work towards effective implementation of Christian Religious Education in public secondary schools. i. There is an urgent need to organize regular in-service programmes for CRE teachers in secondary schools. ii. Students should be encouraged to form CRE clubs and inter school societies to strengthen their attitudes towards the subject. iii. The schools should diversify the resources used to teach the subject. This will improve the performance and enhance discipline in the school. IV. The government should employ qualified teachers to handle CRE in secondary schools. This will improve the performance and develop students' interest in the subject since they will see the teachers as role models.

The school administration, sponsors and other educations stakeholders should give moral support and reward meritorious performance to boost the inorale of students and teachers in the subject. A study needs to be conducted to establish the perception of parents, and sponsors on the importance of CRE in secondary schools. There is also a need to investigate the challenges facing primary, secondary and primary teachers college teachers in the implementation of CRE Curriculum.