Influence of teachers' motivation on students' performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in public secondary schools in Imenti South district Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of teachers' motivation on performance of students in KCSE in public secondary schools in Imenti South District. Five research objectives were formulated to guide the study. The research objectives were to identify the factors influencing the motivation of teachers in public secondary schools in Imenti South district; determine whether teachers' age has any influence on student performance in KCSE in public secondary schools; establish whether working conditions of the teachers has any influence on students' performance in KCSE in public secondary schools; examine whether professional development of the teachers has any influence on students' performance in public secondary schools and lastly to establish whether teachers' remuneration has any influence on students'performance in KCSE in Public secondary schools in Imenti South district.

The study adopted a descriptive survey. The sample was 100 respondents. Data were gathered by use of questionnaires. The analysis was done using the Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Linear Regression. Findings revealed that conducive working conditions had been provided by the schools. It is expected that with conducive working condition in schools, teachers would be motivated to perform better hence good students' performance in the examinations. Finding also revealed that age of the head teachers negatively influenced school performance. Findings also revealed that there was a strong relationship between professional development and KCSE performance in secondary school. Regression analysis on whether KCSE performance was influenced by remuneration factors revealed a strong relationship between remuneration related factors and school performance in secondary school.

Based on the findings it was concluded that working conditions provided conducive learning atmosphere which teachers to perform better hence good students' performance in the examinations. The study also concluded that teachers' age negatively influenced (-0.65) school performance. This implied that the more teachers are advanced in age the poorer the school performance. The study also concluded that influenced performance revealed a strong relationship between working condition and school performance in secondary school. The study further concluded that there was a strong relationship between professional development and KCSE performance in secondary school.

It was also concluded that there was a strong relationship between remuneration related factors and school performance in secondary school. Based on the findings it was recommended that schools' B.O.G and TSC should improve the intrinsic motivation factor of teachers, by recognizing the teachers for their achievement by writing commendation and recommendation letter to them, as inclusion in decision making that affect them. Teachers should be provided with opportunities for professional growth. There should be a promotion procedure with an aim of shortening the promotion period but pegging it on students' performance in the KCSE. B.O.G/TSC should improve the extrinsic motivation factors. Headteachers as well as teachers should capitalize on a more reward based system than punitive measures to enhance discipline and eventually desirable KCSE performance.

The researcher suggested that a replica of the study should be carried out in the districts other than Imenti south District, to explore whether public secondary schools in different districts are exposed to the same influence of teachers' motivation on the performance of students. A study on relationship between teachers' motivation and KCPE performance should also be investigated for comparative purpose and finally a study to be . conducted to investigate whether high level of motivation of teachers have any influence on students performance in KCSE in public secondary schools in Kenya.