| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of institutional
factors on the pupils’ performance in Kenya Certificate of Primary Education
in public primary schools in Kangundo division, Machakos County. To
achieve this, four research objectives were formulated which included: to
assess the influence of instructional supervision by the headteachers on the
pupils’ performance in KCPE; to establish the influence of time management
by the teachers on pupils’ performance in KCPE; to determine the influence of
availability of teaching and learning resources on the pupils’ performance in
KCPE and to examine the influence of the availability of physical facilities on
the pupils’ performance in KCPE. The study adopted and used the descriptive
survey design and involved 30 headteachers, 60 teachers and 180 standard 7
pupils of all public primary schools in Kangundo division, Machakos County.
The researcher relied on 3 categories of questionnaire and an observation
checklist. Questionnaire was used to solicit information from headteacher,
teachers and pupils while the checklist was filled by the researcher from
observations and questions made. The study revealed that there was influence
of institutional factors on pupils’ performance in KCPE in Kangundo division.
Headteachers professional support was not adequate. The study also
established that teachers had the lowest professional qualification. Thus the
quality of professionals influenced the pupils’ performance in KCPE. Most
schools in the division were understaffed, this contributed to high pupils
teacher ratio which increased teacher’s work load leaving very little time for
individual pupil’s attention. It was also found that libraries were not available
as was reported by 70 percent of the headteachers. Lack of libraries affected
the pupils’ performance. Findings on teaching and learning resources revealed
that there were inadequate pupils’ books. Time management had an effect on
pupils’ performance since some teachers came to class late. In view of the
findings, it was recommended that headteachers carry out their professional
role in curriculum supervision through checking teachers professional
documents regularly and supervising teachers as they carry out their teaching
duties, that the MOEST provide opportunities for capacity building and
furthering education for both headteachers and teachers, that the government
provide adequate teaching and learning resources, that headteachers improve
their tactics in instructional supervision and that there was need that all the
required physical facilities are made available in all public primary schools. In
view of the delimitation of the study, it was suggested that further study be
conducted covering the entire Machakos County. Similar research should also
be conducted to establish the challenges facing primary school headteachers in
instructional supervision. | en_US |
