Teachers’ perception on the Quality of free Primary Education in Public Primary Schools: the case of Kamukunji Sub-county, Nairobi County.

Abstract

Education in its broadest sense results from any /experience that affect the way in which one thinks feels or acts. In the narrowest sense education is the formal process by which society deliberately passes accumulated knowledge skills, customs and values from one generation to the next. The main objective of this study was to assess teachers’ perception the on the quality of free primary education public primary in Kamukunji, Nairobi County- Kenya. The specific objectives were to find out teachers’ perception on, the relevance of the content of the teaching curriculum; the impact of physical facilities and resources on the quality of free primary education, the effect of free primary education on students’ academic performance, the learning outcomes in terms of knowledge, attitude and skills. The scope of the study was limited to the seven public primary schools in Kamukunji Sub County in Nairobi County. The study used descriptive research design. The target population was 313 teachers in the seven public primary schools in Kamukunji Sub County. The study employed multi-stage sampling comprising stratified random sampling and then used simple random sampling to select an appropriate sample size of 176 respondents. To obtain primary data, structured questionnaire were developed using open ended and closed questions. Interview guides were also used to interview the key informants. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for analysis and the findings presented in the form of tables. The study found out that the current curriculum has enough content and majority of the teachers in Kamukunji Sub County follow curriculum when teaching and making their teaching plan. Inclusiveness, competence nurturing, standard and curriculum that is learner centered enhances good performance. Availability, adequacy, status and accessibility of physical facilities were found to be key measures that boost performance in Kamukunji primary schools. High number of pupils qualified for high school in the region. The pupils’ absenteeism rate was moderate. School attendance, high number of pupils joining high schools and public financing are key indicators of good performance. Knowledge and skills, pupils’ discipline, and attitudes of pupils boost end results. Pupils with the three mentioned aspects tend to boost the education and they personally benefit by getting good high schools. There is need to have a new curriculum that is more comprehensive and inclusive. A curriculum that does not focus on only passing exams but equipping pupils with technical skills. The study recommends that national government to ensure that there are enough physical facilities and should be renovated at least yearly; primary school’s management should have educative forums to inform those who fail to join high schools that they can make it even in technical and vocational centers. There is need to have good measures put in place to evaluate the learning outcome and the set objectives. Most of the primary schools are more focused on what the class eight performances will be hence forgetting the starting point which includes the set objectives, when the two are looked at, and then quality education which is sustainable to all can be enhanced