| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of floods on learning and teaching programs in public primary schools in Budalang'i plains of Busia County in Kenya. The literature reviewed revealed that a number of regions in Kenya had suffered devastating effects from disasters. Whenever the hazards occurred, the consequences of these disasters were enormous; they included among others; disruption of human settlements, destruction of shelter, damage to infrastructure, disease outbreaks, disruption of teaching and learning programs and the environment.
It was therefore important to establish the influence these floods had on the teaching and learning programs in Budalang'i plains of Busia County. Some of the objectives the study sought to establish included; to determine the extent to which floods influenced pupils' participation in teaching and learning programmes in Budalang'i of Busia County; to determine the level at which floods influenced teachers' participation in teaching and learning programmes in Budalang'i of Busia County; to investigate the extent to which floods influenced teaching and learning infrastructure in Budalang'i of Busia County; to examine the level at which floods influenced management of teaching/ learning programmes in Budalang'i of Busia County.
This study used ex post facto design in Budalangi flood plain in Bunyala District of the Busia County in the Republic of Kenya. The target population was 724 standard eight pupils, 150 teachers and 18 head teachers of the 18 primary schools from the five administrative locations in the flood plains that were chosen using simple random and purposive sampling techniques. The study used two structured questionnaires and an interview schedule developed by the researcher; the first and second questionnaires were used to gather data from standard eight pupils and teachers respectively according to the objectives of the study. The interview schedule collected data from the head teachers according to the objectives of the study.
After data collection, the responses were organized, coded and entered into the computer for analysis using descriptive statistics. The collected data was analyzed, presented in cross tabulation, interpreted and discussed in relation to the study objectives. The study found out that floods led to low school enrolment among pupils in public schools in Budalang'i flood plains. Similarly, the study showed that floods caused destruction of teaching and learning infrastructure in schools. Enrolment in schools was lowered in public schools due to floods. The study concluded that this was due to harsh conditions which were caused by floods and fear among both parents and school going children to join schools which were affected by floods.
The study also concluded that floods affected the teaching and learning programmes in Budalangi flood plains by destroying the school structures. These structures included toilets, playgrounds, desks, classrooms, staffrooms and books. In order to improve the quality of teaching and learning programmes in public primary schools in Budalang'i floodplains, it is recommended that low enrolment and destruction of school structures needed to be addressed. Low enrolment among the pupils in the flood plains could be addressed through sensitization programmes in which both parents and pupils are made to understand that despite the harsh conditions experienced during floods, it is important to ensure that school going children attend school. On other hand, destruction of teaching and learning structures in schools called for should schools being constructed on raised grounds which were not affected by floods. | en_US |
