| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of the study was to investigate factors affecting sustainability of PPE programme in Central Division, Machakos District. To achieve this, research questions on availability of physical facilities, teacher pupil ratio, levels of provision of teaching and learning resources, in-service of teachers and the government funding were formulated. The study adopted a descriptive survey design and targeted a population of 76 headteachers and 608 class teachers out of which a sample of 15 headteachers and 120 classteachers was selected.
Data was collected using questionnaires and an observation schedule. The collected data was coded and classified into major topics and summary report was made. Quantitative data was analyzed by use of descriptive statistics supported by tables, frequency distributions and percentages. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to process data obtained.
The study revealed that most schools had not built enough toilets to serve the pupil population but most of them had built classrooms and have playgrounds, most schools lacked enough teachers and therefore had to employ teachers who are paid by money contributed by parents or from the funds allocated by the government. The study also revealed that teachers gave assignments to pupils oftenly, but were not able to mark the assignments. This coupled with heavy workload on teachers has impacted negatively on the implementation of FPE. On the teaching and learning resources, schools had English textbooks but had inadequate English Dictionaries, audio visual facilities, class readers and library rooms which means that books and other materials are stored in deputy headteachers offices, headteachers' offices and classrooms.
The findings also revealed that most headteachers and teachers had attended guidance and counselling courses which is key in managing pupil discipline in the absence of corporal punishment, Primary School Management (PRISM) which is key in primary school management and School based Teacher Development (SbTD) courses that enable them to improve their teaching skills in key subjects. On government funding, the findings show that government funds are mostly released at the start of the fmancial year. Finally the study revealed that ~ver enrolment of pupils to school was the major challenge facing the implementation ofFPE in public primary schools in Central Division in Machakos District.
In view of the findings discussed, this study makes the following recommendations: building of new physical facilities, and the existing ones repaired, the provision of teaching and learning resources as well as storage facilities, headteachers, teachers and other members of staff be encouraged and sponsored to attend in-service programmes and funding of the FPE programme should be increased by the government.
The study targeted Central Division of Machakos District leaving out other divisions, similar study be undertaken in the whole of Machakos District. The study also did not involve other stakeholders such as parents and pupils and therefore a similar study should be done with these persons as respondents. | en_US |
