Institutional Factors Influencing Pupils’ Performance at Kenya Certificate of Primary Education Level in Matungu Sub County, Kakamega County

Abstract

Kenya Certificate of Primary Education Examinations are important to primary school pupils since they determine their entry into secondary schools. According to Kakamega County Examination Department analyzed report (2017) Matungu Sub County has not been performing well for the last four years as compared to other sub counties. The purpose of the study was to investigate institutional factors influencing KCPE performance. The objectives were to determine the influence of head teachers’ professional support on pupils’ performance, determine the influence of teachers’ professional development on pupils’ performance, assess the influence of physical facilities on pupils performance, establish the influence of teaching and learning resources on pupils’ performance and determine the influence of leadership factors on KCPE examination performance. The study was based on Systems Theory by Ludwig Von Bertalanffy. The study adopted correlation design. The study used both census and simple random sampling designs. The target population was 60 head teachers and 700 teachers. The sample size was composed of 19 head teachers and 210 teachers. The study used questionnaires for head teachers and teachers. Content validity was ascertained. Piloting was done in two schools. Test–retest technique was used to test the reliability of the instrument. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, correlation and Chi-squire. The findings were presented in tables using frequencies, means, standard deviation and grand means. The study findings indicated that there was a statistical significant relationship between teachers’ professional support, professional development, physical facilities, teaching and learning resources and leadership factors and pupils’ performance on national examination. The study recommended that the government through the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) should strength supervisory activities in primary school. Head teachers should offer professional support to all the teachers in order to boost student performance in examinations. The study also recommends that parents and government avail funds in time in order to procure physical facilities and material resources to facilitate students’ performance through proper teacher and pupil use of the material.