| dc.description.abstract | The school environment is an integral part of the overall management of the school.
Education in a school is determined by the enrichment, management and utilization of
resources in the school environment. A direct relationship exists between the school
environment, quality of school facilities, teaching personnel and learning materials and
the overall education process. The above will determine the instructional programmes
and academic performance of the school. The study investigates the influence of school
environment in pupils academic performance as perceived by the Headteachers and
Teachers in Kathiani Division of Machakos County. The school environment includes the
school Building design, use of instructional materials in teaching and learning process
and the impact of physical facilities on pupils achievement. The researcher employed
descriptive survey design to conduct the study. The target population consisted of seventy
one mixed day primary schools in the Division. The sample consisted of thirty two
schools, the Headteachers of the sampled schools was automatically included in the study
while the teachers were randomly selected. The data was collected through an interview
schedule from the school Headteachers by means of a questionnaire. The data was
analyzed using descriptive statistics using stastical package for social sciences (SPSS).
The analyzed data was then represented using frequency tables and percentages. The
study established that school environment had a lot of influence in pupils academic
performance. Infrastructural factors such as the classroom designs, desks, latrine/toilets,
playfield among others were considered in the study. The infractional materials and their
full utilization was considered to influence the learners academic performance;
instructional methods and all the physical facilities were the major determinants of the
pupils academic performance. Having attained research findings the research made the
following recommendations: The ministry of Education should allocate more funds to
improve on the school environment and embrace on information communication
technology in schools. The Headteachers should design; renovate facilities such as
sanitation infrastructure, playfields, supply of water and power in schools. The teachers
service commission should employ more teachers to counteract the over crowded
classroom as a result of free primary education. Infrastructional materials should be fully
utilized in schools. | en_US |
