Factors Influencing Performance of English as a Subject in Kenya Certificate of Primary Education in Nakuru Town, East Sub-county, Kenya

Abstract

Over the years, the language of instruction in Kenyan schools has been English. Thus, students’ proficiency in English goes to a long extent to determine the student academic achievement in the overall. Student’s failure to understand the English language becomes a challenge in academic achievement. Performance in English determines the performance in other subjects since it is the language of instruction in schools. This study sought to investigate factors influencing performance of English in the KCPE in primary schools in Nakuru Town East Sub-County. The study established the influence of the training of teachers, availability of teaching and learning materials, and student’s and teacher’s attitude towards English learning on the performance of English in primary schools in Nakuru Town, East Sub-County. The study employed a descriptive research design. The study sample included 92 teachers and 352 students drawn from 30 primary schools in Nakuru Town East Sub-County. Data collection was done using a questionnaire structured on a likert scale. The collected data was analyzed in form of descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. Findings were presented in tables and discussions thereof. It was established that teacher training though an essential recruitment requirement had no significant effect on performance of English in primary schools. Availability of teaching and learning materials was found to have an average significant relationship with English performance. Teachers’ attitude towards teaching and learning of English was shown not to have a significant influence on students’ performance. However, students’ attitudes on learning English had a significant effect on performance. The researcher therefore concluded that teacher training alone was not sufficient to enhance students’ performance. The research further concluded that presence of learning materials was important in enhancing students’ performance in English. Additionally, the study concluded that students’ attitude influences their performance in English. The study recommended that the ministry of education should provide more training for teachers to improve on their teaching methods. Moreover, the school management boards should ensure the provision of teaching and learning materials in the schools. The study further recommended that both the school administration and the teachers should work together to help the students develop positive attitudes towards the learning of English.