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Papers by Ursulla Okoth

Research paper thumbnail of Teachers’ appraisal of classroom physical environment on students’ academic performance in Kenya certificate of secondary education in Laikipia county

The Journal of Quality in Education

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has declared that education is fundamental human rights... more The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has declared that education is fundamental human rights to the well-being of any society. Therefore, the study was motivated by the need to improve students’ academic performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination, a case in Laikipia County, Kenya. The study was guided by one objective. To determine the extent to which appraisal of teachers on classroom physical environment influences students’ performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in Laikipia County. The study targeted 94 public secondary schools which comprises of 94 principals and 1100 teachers in Laikipia County. Purposive sampling was used to select 45 principals while simple random sampling was used to select 300 teachers. Questionnaires were used to collect data from principals and teachers. The findings of the null hypothesis there is no significant relationship between teacher appraisal on classroom physical environment and students’ performanc...

Research paper thumbnail of Influence of Principalsâ Individualized Consideration on Studentsâ Performance at Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in Public Secondary Schools, Kenya

Research & Reviews: Journal of Educational Studies, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Class Teachers’ Role in Maintaining Students’ Discipline in Secondary Schools in Teso South District, Kenya

Indiscipline in secondary schools has been a national issue in Kenya. The head teachers have been... more Indiscipline in secondary schools has been a national issue in Kenya. The head teachers have been blamed for incompetence disregarding other factors. The paper addresses the role of class teachers as one of the stakeholders that could help. The objectives; determine how participatory role of class teachers in school administration enhances discipline,establishesclassesteachers' use of curriculum implementation processes promotes discipline and assess how class teachers' involvement in guidance and counseling enhances student discipline. Purposive sampling and stratified random sampling was used to obtain 81 teachers and 10 head teachers. The interview guide and a questionnaire were instruments used to collect data. The findings showed that class teachers assist in maintaining students' discipline in secondary schools through participating in administrative tasks, curriculum implementation, and guidance and counseling. Recommendations: Ministry of Education to enhance policy on participatory leadership and encourage empowerment programs for head teachers and class teachers for maintaining discipline. Kenya Education Management Institute to design training programs for class teachers to make them effective at social and counselling skills to enhance discipline among students.

Research paper thumbnail of Analysis of psychosocial & economic support on access to education by orphaned and vulnerable children of Kingeero, Kiambu County, Kenya

This study sought to determine the effects of psycho-social and economic support on access to edu... more This study sought to determine the effects of psycho-social and economic support on access to education by orphaned and vulnerable children in Kiambu county. The study was guided by objectives such as; to determine the challenges orphaned and vulnerable children face, to assess the availability of psycho-social support services and how they help in the development of orphaned and vulnerable children. Education is important in the psychological development of any child. Through education, a child is able to interact with the immediate world and comprehend the issues surrounding them. However, during the process of problem identification, the findings showed that there are a good number of children in Kiambu who are not able to access education and so, their general growth is inhibited in the long run. It is therefore important to note that, although they are in need of the psychosocial and economic support, education is a very important factor in life that cannot be ignored. An analysis of various kinds of support that are already available to OVCs was done and how such support makes a difference to them. Exploratory research design was used to describe the phenomenon into details and to analyze data. Probability Sampling was used to select the samples for the study, and purposeful random sampling used to come up with the sample size. Recommendations were made on the steps that may be taken to end the plight of the OVCs that may lead to their growth in education and development.

Research paper thumbnail of Career Advancement and Participatory Decision Making of Teachers: Predictor on Job Satisfaction in Public Primary Schools in Nandi County, Kenya

International Journal of Current Science Research and Review, Dec 16, 2022

The purpose of this study is to investigate career advancement and Participatory decision making ... more The purpose of this study is to investigate career advancement and Participatory decision making of the teachers by head teachers as a predictor of job satisfaction in public primary schools in Nandi County, Kenya .This study was guided by the following objectives: To determine the extent to which head teachers encourage Career advancement influence teachers' job satisfaction .To determine the extent to which participatory decision making by head teachers influence teachers job satisfaction. A descriptive research design was used. The study was anchored on two factor theory Herzberg-hygiene theory developed by Fredrick Herzberg (1968) and job characteristics Model by Hack man and Oldham (1980). The target population for the study was 691head teachers and 5470 teachers in 691 primary schools. The total sample was 548 teachers. Multi-stage random technique and Simple random sampling were used. The data collection instruments were questionnaires. Validity was done through pilot study and content validity was used to check the representation of the research questions in the questionnaires. The reliability was tested using Pearson's Moment Coefficient approach. The results from questionnaires were interpreted and analyzed using frequencies' percentages 'and means. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was analyzed using Analysis of Variance(ANOVA).The results shows that the null hypothesis H01 was rejected which implies that there was a relationship between head teachers 'involvement in career advancementof teachers and teachers' job satisfaction. This implies that when head teachers 'involve teachers in career advancementthe teachers feel encouraged and satisfied.Career advancement had an influence on teachers' job satisfaction.This shows participatory decision making by head teachers had some influence on teachers' job satisfaction. From the findings, results from testing of the null hypothesis Ho2. The null hypothesis H02 was rejected which implies that there was a relationship between head teachers involving teachers in decision making and teachers' job satisfaction. This implies that when head teachers involve teachers in critical decision making in schools they feel part and parcel of well being of the school hence feel satisfied. They head teachers should recommend teachers for promotion and mobilize parents by involving Board of Management so as to get resources.The government through the ministry of education should: provide policies on Career advancement are effective and that it does not interfere with the teachers schedule in school. The Quality Assurance Service should ensure they act as key monitors' especially in supervision and encourage job satisfying practices through collaborative decision making. The government through the ministry of education should: Consider teachers are involved in decision making in school on matters education to ensure participation of all teachers is paramount in order to ensure that teachers are satisfied with their jobs.

Research paper thumbnail of Perceptions Of School Managers On The Impact Of Integration Of ICT In Human Resource On Management Of Schools In Nairobi City County, Kenya

Journal of Education and Practice, 2017

The aim of this study is to investigate the perceptions of principals and deputy principals of se... more The aim of this study is to investigate the perceptions of principals and deputy principals of secondary schools in Nairobi City County on the impact of integration of information communication technology (ICT) in human resource on the management of secondary schools in Nairobi City County. The study employed the descriptive research survey method. The research instruments used were questionnaires, an interview guide and an observation schedule. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented in the form of tables. Qualitative data was coded according to content and analyzed based on emerging themes and presented in narrative form. The findings of the study was that there was no significant impact of integrating ICT in human resource on secondary school management in Nairobi City County. Among the recommendations made are that the ministry of education should create and adopt a nationally accepted ICT policy for purposes of uniformity in the management of schools.

Research paper thumbnail of Influence of Principals’ Inspirational motivation on Students‟ Performance at Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in Public Secondary Schools, Kenya

There is widespread recognition that, education is the key to the well-being of any society. Ther... more There is widespread recognition that, education is the key to the well-being of any society. Therefore, this study was motivated by the need to improve students' academic performance at Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations in Mbooni West Sub-county, Kenya.The study was guided by two objectives: i. Examine the extent to which principals' leadership practice of inspirational motivation (IM) in public secondary schools influences students' performance at KCSEexaminations. ii. Examine the extent to which principals' demographic variables influence leadershippractice of inspirational motivationin public secondary schools.The study targeted 42 public secondary schools in the Sub-county. A sample of 38 schools was selected using simple random technique whereby selections are made purely by chance. The study employed descriptive research design. Questionnaires, focus groups discussion, interviews guides, and document analyseswere used to collect data. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. In descriptive statistics, frequencies, percentages, means, variance, and standard deviations were calculated and presented in tables. Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was computed to test if relationships exist or does not exist between IM and students' performance tested at alpha value 0.05 or 0.01 levels of significance. Further,t-test was used to determine whether principals' demographic variables influence the leadership practices of inspirational motivation.The findings shown that, inspirational motivation has positive significant influence on students' performance at KCSE examinations with .194 ** at alpha value 0.01 level (2-tailed). Further,results shown that, inspirational motivation is moderately practiced in public secondary schools.Besides, no significant influence found of principals' demographic variables of gender and age on leadershippractice of inspirational motivation. Future research should include larger sample sizes of principals and teachers from a variety of schools' settings. Thus, investigate influence of principals' transformational leadership practices (TLP) on teachers' commitment in public secondary schools. This study recommends higher learning institutions to restructure comprehensive courses on TLP for teacher trainees to enhance establishment of effective schools' leadership in Kenya.

Research paper thumbnail of Influence of Boards of Management's Partnership with Non-Governmental Organizations on the Provision of Quality Education in Kajiado West Sub-County

Journal of Education, Nov 24, 2017

The purpose of the study was to establish the influence of boards of management’s partnership wit... more The purpose of the study was to establish the influence of boards of management’s partnership with non-governmental organizations on the provision of quality education in Kajiado West Sub-County. The study employed a descriptive survey design since the data to be collected required a quantitative and qualitative approach. The study targeted 42 public secondary schools in Kajiado County. Sixteen schools (16) were randomly selected from a pool of 42 schools in Kajiado County. Census technique was used to select 16 principals from selected schools. Further, simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 108 BoM from a total of 272 Board of Management members. Result findings showed that partnering with Non-governmental Organizations influences provision of quality education. Based on research finding was also concluded that BoM partnership with Non-governmental Organizations influences provision of quality education. Key words: Boards of Management, Non-Governmental Organizations, quality education

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of Drug and Substance-Abusing Families on Parental Participation in the Management of Students’ Discipline in Public Day Secondary Schools in Kenya

Research paper thumbnail of Head teacher characteristics that influence curriculum implementation

European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Board of Managements’ Initiatives Influencing Quality Education in Secondary Schools in Kajiado, Kenya

Journal of Education, Dec 17, 2017

The purpose of the study was to investigate the initiatives of the Board of Management that influ... more The purpose of the study was to investigate the initiatives of the Board of Management that influences the provision of quality education in secondary schools in Kajiado West-sub County, Kajiado County. The study employed a descriptive survey design since the data to be collected required a quantitative and qualitative approach. The study targeted 42 public secondary schools in Kajiado County. Sixteen schools (16) were randomly selected from a pool of 42 schools in Kajiado County. Census technique was used to select 16 principals from selected schools. Further, simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 108 BoM from a total of 272 Board of Management members. Result findings showed that management of physical resources, teachers' professional development influences provision of quality education. Based on research finding it can be concluded that involving Board of Management initiative in the management of physical resources, teacher professional development influences provision of quality education. The Board should ensure that teachers' professional development is supported through in service training. It is also recommended that school resources be spend sparingly and appropriately in acquiring learning materials, constructing classes, laboratories and recruiting extra Board teachers in order to enhance quality education.

Research paper thumbnail of Influence of Collaborative Methods on Pupil’s Performance in English Language in Kenya Certificate of Primary Education in Non Formal Schools in Korogocho, Nairobi, Kenya

Journal of Education and Practice, 2017

The aim of this study was to establish the influence of collaborative classroom teaching on pupil... more The aim of this study was to establish the influence of collaborative classroom teaching on pupil's performance in English language in Kenya Certificate of primary education in non formal primary schools in Korogocho, Nairobi Kenya. The objectives of the study were to determine the extent to which learning in groups influence performance, influence of group assignment on pupils performance, the relationships between group discussions and performance in English language. The study was based on Instructional theory, and employed descriptive research design. The target population was 78 non formal primary schools, 78 directors, 180 teachers of English and 780 Pupils. Data was collected by means of questionnaires, focus group discussion and lesson observation guide. Data was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient to test the relationship between dependent and independent variables. The study established that performance in English language was below average. It was also established that performance was affected by the instructional methods applied by teachers. Pearson's correlation coefficient results showed that collaborative method had significant relationships with performance in English language. This study is expected to provide useful information on instructional methods to be used in primary schools. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education should encourage the use of collaborative method in primary schools in Kenya. The study concludes that, teachers in Non formal schools should be exposed to the modern methods of teaching.

Research paper thumbnail of Influence Of Lecture Method On Pupil’s Performance In English Language In Kenya Certificate Of Primary Education In Non Formal Schools In Korogocho, Nairobi Kenya

International journal of humanities and social science, 2017

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of pedagogical practices on pupil's performa... more The aim of this study was to determine the influence of pedagogical practices on pupil's performance in English language in Kenya Certificate of primary education in non formal primary schools in Korogocho, Nairobi Kenya. The objectives of the study were; to establish the influence of lecture method on pupils' performance in English language, to determine whether demonstration method influence pupils' performance in English language, to determine whether dictation of notes in class influence pupils' performance in English language and to establish whether orderliness in class influence pupils' performance in English language. The study was based on Instructional theory by Charles Regeiluth. The study adopted descriptive research design. Target population was 78 non formal primary schools, 78 directors, 180 teachers of English and 780 pupils. Purposive sampling was used to select 23 non formal primary schools, 23 directors were sampled by census 54 teachers were purposively selected and solvins formula was used to select 264 pupils. Content validity of the questionnaires was obtained by expert's judgment. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to test the relationship between lecture method and performance, data was presented in text and in tables. regression and inferential statistics established that the use of lecture method alone correlated negatively to performance at-0.1308. It was established that performance in English was affected by the use of lecture method. The recommendations; alternative use of instructional methods such as collaborative teaching should be used in teaching primary schools, the Ministry of Education to discourage the use of lecture method as it is not suitable for young people. Teachers exposure to the modern methods of teaching is necessary and attend in-service courses, KICD to design curriculum for NFPS. The study was expected to provide significant information on instructional methods to be used in schools. It can be concluded that a combination of instructional methods help boost performance in English language at KCPE

Research paper thumbnail of Environmental Education: Head teachers' instructional leadership in implementation

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of Students’ Exposure to Electronic Media Facilities in Their Homes on Parental Involvement in Management of Students’ Discipline in Public Day Secondary Schools in Kenya

European Scientific Journal, ESJ, Nov 30, 2017

Students' exposure to electronic media facilities and lack of parental supervision has led to ind... more Students' exposure to electronic media facilities and lack of parental supervision has led to indiscipline among students globally. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of students' exposure to electronic media facilities in their homes on parental involvement in management of students' discipline in public day secondary schools in Kitui County, Kenya. The hypothesis was: there is no significant difference in means between students' exposure to electronic media facilities and parental involvement in management of students' discipline. The sample consisted of 70 principals, 86 Form three class teachers and 354 Form three students. The instruments were questionnaires and focus group discussions. A pre-test was used to validate the questionnaires while a test-re-test method was used to determine reliability. Instruments reliability coefficients were 0.78 for head teachers, 0.75 for class teachers and 0.82 for students' questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized for data analysis while the level of significance was set at alpha = 0.05. Based on the results of ANOVA, F (4, 146) =85.548, P = 0.087, the hypothesis was accepted. It was concluded that students' exposure to electronic media facilities influenced parental involvement in management of students' discipline although this was not significant. It was recommended that parents should monitor and control the use of electronic media facilities by their children at home to control students' discipline at school. This paper was drawn out from a study conducted in the year 2016 and 2017 in Kitui County, Kenya.

Research paper thumbnail of Instructional leadership role of head teachers in the implementation of secondary school environmental education in Siaya district, Kenya

Research paper thumbnail of Head teachers’ use of curriculum strategy to curb Drug and Substance Abuse among students in secondary schools, Nairobi County

Research paper thumbnail of Influence of teachers’ communication strategies on students’ discipline in public secondary schools in Mukurwe-ini district, Kenya

International journal of social sciences, 2013

This project is in memory of my late brothers Duncan Wanjohi and Joseph Njuguna and is dedicated ... more This project is in memory of my late brothers Duncan Wanjohi and Joseph Njuguna and is dedicated to my dad Patrick Muriithi and my mum, Mary Wairimu. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT First and foremost is to give thanks to the Almighty God for giving me strength, mental and good health while undertaking this project. I humbly acknowledge, appreciate and wish to thank the University of Nairobi for sponsoring me fully in the entire course. I sincerely acknowledge good work done by my supervisors, Dr Grace Nyagah and Dr. Ursulla Okoth in guiding me in every step and sacrificing their valuable time to advise me in the entire project. I also acknowledge the support and assistance accorded to me by my family, my father Patrick Muriithi and my mother Mary Wairimu and my brother and sister, Charles Wahome and Consolata Muthoni, I am grateful for your patience. I also acknowledge the moral support and encouragement of my dear friend Jane Kamau and Aunt Ann Githui which kept me on the move throughout the entire project. I am also grateful to my respondents both teachers and students of Mukurweini District, for their cooperation as I was undertaking the project. Without their support, this entire project would not have been possible.

Research paper thumbnail of Constituency bursary scheme for secondary schools in Kenya: Challenges of the constituency development fund (CDF)

Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is money put aside by the government for the development of c... more Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is money put aside by the government for the development of communities in Kenya.A constituency is the basic unit for electing a member of parliament. One of the provisions is the bursary scheme for needy children. This is meant to increase access to secondary education among the needy families since education is a right (Children’s Act). The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors that affect the management of the constituency bursary scheme (part of CDF) for needy secondary school students in Kenya. The study aimed at determining the factors considered in allocating bursaries to needy students, identifying mechanisms for targeting needy students, establish if disbursement of funds is timely and if the funds are adequate, and to find out the constraints facing the constituency bursary committee. The study was based on the Classical Liberal Theory of Equal Opportunity. The descriptive survey design was adopted. The target population consisted of principals, students and members of constituency bursary committee. Purposive sampling wasemployed to select 14 secondary schools with boarding facilities from twenty four public secondary schools in Amagoro constituency in Western Kenya.This is because boarding schools are expensive for most parents and yet they perform better in national examinations. Therefore, most parents would prefer boarding schools as they allow more time to students to concentrate in their studies. Purposive sampling was used to select 300 students who had applied for bursary. The 14principals of the sampled schools were automatically selected, while sixteen members of the Constituency Bursary Committee (CBC) were randomly selected for the study. The instruments used for the study were questionnaires for principals and students, and an interview guide for the constituency bursary committee. Documents analysis was conducted on records of students who had applied for bursaries and those who benefited from the bursary scheme for the period 2005 – 2009. Validity of the instruments was enhanced through piloting and review by experts, while reliability was ensured using the test-retest method to compute the Pearson’s Product Moment correlations coefficient. The data collected from the field was coded and entered into the computer for analysis assisted by the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistical analysis was done, included frequencies, means and percentages. The results of data analysis were presented in frequency tables, and pie-charts. Qualitative data was first organized into categories or themes and patterns were created, after which it was analyzed using descriptive statisticsas was done for quantitative data. The study established that the major factors considered in allocating bursaries were special needs, orphans, poor parents and academic performance. The study also established that the mechanisms for targeting needy students were through dissemination of information through principals, teachers and public gatherings. According to the study, the amount of bursary funds awarded to needy students was at most times inadequate, and the disbursement of funds to students was untimely. The study further found that the CBC is faced by various challenges, including insufficient funds allocated to it by the Ministry of Education, late release of these funds, unreliable information provided by applicants, and lack of a reliable database on applicants and beneficiaries. The recommendations to make the bursary scheme more efficient and effective were as follows; the CBC should intensify sensitization of parents/guardians, students, principals and teachers on the factors considered for bursary allocation, and the CBC should be facilitated by Ministry of Education to establish a database of applicants for the bursary scheme to enable the committee fund only the most needy students.The government should allocate more funds to the CBC and remit to the constituency at the beginning of school holidays, and that the Ministry of Education should strengthen the monitoring and evaluation structures of the bursary scheme to ensure that it meets its objectives of assisting the needy hence increasing access to secondary education. The conclusions of thestudy: management of the bursary scheme is affected by inadequacy of funds disbursed to CBC, inadequate communication to stakeholders, ineffective identification of needy students and untimely disbursement of funds to CBC and students. Key terms: Constituency Development Fund Bursary, disbursement, secondary education, access, Kenya Contribution to comparative education This paper is informative as it provides a mechanism that can be used by other developing countries to increase access to secondary education by addressing the short comings.

Research paper thumbnail of Constituency bursary scheme for secondary schools in Kenya: Challenges of the development fund (CDF)

Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is money put aside by the government for the development of c... more Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is money put aside by the government for the development of communities in Kenya.A constituency is the basic unit for electing a member of parliament. One of the provisions is the bursary scheme for needy children. This is meant to increase access to secondary education among the needy families since education is a right (Children’s Act). The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors that affect the management of the constituency bursary scheme (part of CDF) for needy secondary school students in Kenya. The study aimed at determining the factors considered in allocating bursaries to needy students, identifying mechanisms for targeting needy students, establish if disbursement of funds is timely and if the funds are adequate, and to find out the constraints facing the constituency bursary committee. The study was based on the Classical Liberal Theory of Equal Opportunity. The descriptive survey design was adopted. The target population consisted of principals, students and members of constituency bursary committee. Purposive sampling wasemployed to select 14 secondary schools with boarding facilities from twenty four public secondary schools in Amagoro constituency in Western Kenya.This is because boarding schools are expensive for most parents and yet they perform better in national examinations. Therefore, most parents would prefer boarding schools as they allow more time to students to concentrate in their studies. Purposive sampling was used to select 300 students who had applied for bursary. The 14principals of the sampled schools were automatically selected, while sixteen members of the Constituency Bursary Committee (CBC) were randomly selected for the study. The instruments used for the study were questionnaires for principals and students, and an interview guide for the constituency bursary committee. Documents analysis was conducted on records of students who had applied for bursaries and those who benefited from the bursary scheme for the period 2005 – 2009. Validity of the instruments was enhanced through piloting and review by experts, while reliability was ensured using the test-retest method to compute the Pearson’s Product Moment correlations coefficient. The data collected from the field was coded and entered into the computer for analysis assisted by the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistical analysis was done, included frequencies, means and percentages. The results of data analysis were presented in frequency tables, and pie-charts. Qualitative data was first organized into categories or themes and patterns were created, after which it was analyzed using descriptive statisticsas was done for quantitative data. The study established that the major factors considered in allocating bursaries were special needs, orphans, poor parents and academic performance. The study also established that the mechanisms for targeting needy students were through dissemination of information through principals, teachers and public gatherings. According to the study, the amount of bursary funds awarded to needy students was at most times inadequate, and the disbursement of funds to students was untimely. The study further found that the CBC is faced by various challenges, including insufficient funds allocated to it by the Ministry of Education, late release of these funds, unreliable information provided by applicants, and lack of a reliable database on applicants and beneficiaries. The recommendations to make the bursary scheme more efficient and effective were as follows; the CBC should intensify sensitization of parents/guardians, students, principals and teachers on the factors considered for bursary allocation, and the CBC should be facilitated by Ministry of Education to establish a database of applicants for the bursary scheme to enable the committee fund only the most needy students.The government should allocate more funds to the CBC and remit to the constituency at the beginning of school holidays, and that the Ministry of Education should strengthen the monitoring and evaluation structures of the bursary scheme to ensure that it meets its objectives of assisting the needy hence increasing access to secondary education. The conclusions of thestudy: management of the bursary scheme is affected by inadequacy of funds disbursed to CBC, inadequate communication to stakeholders, ineffective identification of needy students and untimely disbursement of funds to CBC and students. Key terms: Constituency Development Fund Bursary, disbursement, secondary education, access, Kenya Contribution to comparative education This paper is informative as it provides a mechanism that can be used by other developing countries to increase access to secondary education by addressing the short comings.

Research paper thumbnail of Teachers’ appraisal of classroom physical environment on students’ academic performance in Kenya certificate of secondary education in Laikipia county

The Journal of Quality in Education

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has declared that education is fundamental human rights... more The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has declared that education is fundamental human rights to the well-being of any society. Therefore, the study was motivated by the need to improve students’ academic performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination, a case in Laikipia County, Kenya. The study was guided by one objective. To determine the extent to which appraisal of teachers on classroom physical environment influences students’ performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in Laikipia County. The study targeted 94 public secondary schools which comprises of 94 principals and 1100 teachers in Laikipia County. Purposive sampling was used to select 45 principals while simple random sampling was used to select 300 teachers. Questionnaires were used to collect data from principals and teachers. The findings of the null hypothesis there is no significant relationship between teacher appraisal on classroom physical environment and students’ performanc...

Research paper thumbnail of Influence of Principalsâ Individualized Consideration on Studentsâ Performance at Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in Public Secondary Schools, Kenya

Research & Reviews: Journal of Educational Studies, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Class Teachers’ Role in Maintaining Students’ Discipline in Secondary Schools in Teso South District, Kenya

Indiscipline in secondary schools has been a national issue in Kenya. The head teachers have been... more Indiscipline in secondary schools has been a national issue in Kenya. The head teachers have been blamed for incompetence disregarding other factors. The paper addresses the role of class teachers as one of the stakeholders that could help. The objectives; determine how participatory role of class teachers in school administration enhances discipline,establishesclassesteachers' use of curriculum implementation processes promotes discipline and assess how class teachers' involvement in guidance and counseling enhances student discipline. Purposive sampling and stratified random sampling was used to obtain 81 teachers and 10 head teachers. The interview guide and a questionnaire were instruments used to collect data. The findings showed that class teachers assist in maintaining students' discipline in secondary schools through participating in administrative tasks, curriculum implementation, and guidance and counseling. Recommendations: Ministry of Education to enhance policy on participatory leadership and encourage empowerment programs for head teachers and class teachers for maintaining discipline. Kenya Education Management Institute to design training programs for class teachers to make them effective at social and counselling skills to enhance discipline among students.

Research paper thumbnail of Analysis of psychosocial & economic support on access to education by orphaned and vulnerable children of Kingeero, Kiambu County, Kenya

This study sought to determine the effects of psycho-social and economic support on access to edu... more This study sought to determine the effects of psycho-social and economic support on access to education by orphaned and vulnerable children in Kiambu county. The study was guided by objectives such as; to determine the challenges orphaned and vulnerable children face, to assess the availability of psycho-social support services and how they help in the development of orphaned and vulnerable children. Education is important in the psychological development of any child. Through education, a child is able to interact with the immediate world and comprehend the issues surrounding them. However, during the process of problem identification, the findings showed that there are a good number of children in Kiambu who are not able to access education and so, their general growth is inhibited in the long run. It is therefore important to note that, although they are in need of the psychosocial and economic support, education is a very important factor in life that cannot be ignored. An analysis of various kinds of support that are already available to OVCs was done and how such support makes a difference to them. Exploratory research design was used to describe the phenomenon into details and to analyze data. Probability Sampling was used to select the samples for the study, and purposeful random sampling used to come up with the sample size. Recommendations were made on the steps that may be taken to end the plight of the OVCs that may lead to their growth in education and development.

Research paper thumbnail of Career Advancement and Participatory Decision Making of Teachers: Predictor on Job Satisfaction in Public Primary Schools in Nandi County, Kenya

International Journal of Current Science Research and Review, Dec 16, 2022

The purpose of this study is to investigate career advancement and Participatory decision making ... more The purpose of this study is to investigate career advancement and Participatory decision making of the teachers by head teachers as a predictor of job satisfaction in public primary schools in Nandi County, Kenya .This study was guided by the following objectives: To determine the extent to which head teachers encourage Career advancement influence teachers' job satisfaction .To determine the extent to which participatory decision making by head teachers influence teachers job satisfaction. A descriptive research design was used. The study was anchored on two factor theory Herzberg-hygiene theory developed by Fredrick Herzberg (1968) and job characteristics Model by Hack man and Oldham (1980). The target population for the study was 691head teachers and 5470 teachers in 691 primary schools. The total sample was 548 teachers. Multi-stage random technique and Simple random sampling were used. The data collection instruments were questionnaires. Validity was done through pilot study and content validity was used to check the representation of the research questions in the questionnaires. The reliability was tested using Pearson's Moment Coefficient approach. The results from questionnaires were interpreted and analyzed using frequencies' percentages 'and means. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was analyzed using Analysis of Variance(ANOVA).The results shows that the null hypothesis H01 was rejected which implies that there was a relationship between head teachers 'involvement in career advancementof teachers and teachers' job satisfaction. This implies that when head teachers 'involve teachers in career advancementthe teachers feel encouraged and satisfied.Career advancement had an influence on teachers' job satisfaction.This shows participatory decision making by head teachers had some influence on teachers' job satisfaction. From the findings, results from testing of the null hypothesis Ho2. The null hypothesis H02 was rejected which implies that there was a relationship between head teachers involving teachers in decision making and teachers' job satisfaction. This implies that when head teachers involve teachers in critical decision making in schools they feel part and parcel of well being of the school hence feel satisfied. They head teachers should recommend teachers for promotion and mobilize parents by involving Board of Management so as to get resources.The government through the ministry of education should: provide policies on Career advancement are effective and that it does not interfere with the teachers schedule in school. The Quality Assurance Service should ensure they act as key monitors' especially in supervision and encourage job satisfying practices through collaborative decision making. The government through the ministry of education should: Consider teachers are involved in decision making in school on matters education to ensure participation of all teachers is paramount in order to ensure that teachers are satisfied with their jobs.

Research paper thumbnail of Perceptions Of School Managers On The Impact Of Integration Of ICT In Human Resource On Management Of Schools In Nairobi City County, Kenya

Journal of Education and Practice, 2017

The aim of this study is to investigate the perceptions of principals and deputy principals of se... more The aim of this study is to investigate the perceptions of principals and deputy principals of secondary schools in Nairobi City County on the impact of integration of information communication technology (ICT) in human resource on the management of secondary schools in Nairobi City County. The study employed the descriptive research survey method. The research instruments used were questionnaires, an interview guide and an observation schedule. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented in the form of tables. Qualitative data was coded according to content and analyzed based on emerging themes and presented in narrative form. The findings of the study was that there was no significant impact of integrating ICT in human resource on secondary school management in Nairobi City County. Among the recommendations made are that the ministry of education should create and adopt a nationally accepted ICT policy for purposes of uniformity in the management of schools.

Research paper thumbnail of Influence of Principals’ Inspirational motivation on Students‟ Performance at Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in Public Secondary Schools, Kenya

There is widespread recognition that, education is the key to the well-being of any society. Ther... more There is widespread recognition that, education is the key to the well-being of any society. Therefore, this study was motivated by the need to improve students' academic performance at Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations in Mbooni West Sub-county, Kenya.The study was guided by two objectives: i. Examine the extent to which principals' leadership practice of inspirational motivation (IM) in public secondary schools influences students' performance at KCSEexaminations. ii. Examine the extent to which principals' demographic variables influence leadershippractice of inspirational motivationin public secondary schools.The study targeted 42 public secondary schools in the Sub-county. A sample of 38 schools was selected using simple random technique whereby selections are made purely by chance. The study employed descriptive research design. Questionnaires, focus groups discussion, interviews guides, and document analyseswere used to collect data. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. In descriptive statistics, frequencies, percentages, means, variance, and standard deviations were calculated and presented in tables. Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was computed to test if relationships exist or does not exist between IM and students' performance tested at alpha value 0.05 or 0.01 levels of significance. Further,t-test was used to determine whether principals' demographic variables influence the leadership practices of inspirational motivation.The findings shown that, inspirational motivation has positive significant influence on students' performance at KCSE examinations with .194 ** at alpha value 0.01 level (2-tailed). Further,results shown that, inspirational motivation is moderately practiced in public secondary schools.Besides, no significant influence found of principals' demographic variables of gender and age on leadershippractice of inspirational motivation. Future research should include larger sample sizes of principals and teachers from a variety of schools' settings. Thus, investigate influence of principals' transformational leadership practices (TLP) on teachers' commitment in public secondary schools. This study recommends higher learning institutions to restructure comprehensive courses on TLP for teacher trainees to enhance establishment of effective schools' leadership in Kenya.

Research paper thumbnail of Influence of Boards of Management's Partnership with Non-Governmental Organizations on the Provision of Quality Education in Kajiado West Sub-County

Journal of Education, Nov 24, 2017

The purpose of the study was to establish the influence of boards of management’s partnership wit... more The purpose of the study was to establish the influence of boards of management’s partnership with non-governmental organizations on the provision of quality education in Kajiado West Sub-County. The study employed a descriptive survey design since the data to be collected required a quantitative and qualitative approach. The study targeted 42 public secondary schools in Kajiado County. Sixteen schools (16) were randomly selected from a pool of 42 schools in Kajiado County. Census technique was used to select 16 principals from selected schools. Further, simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 108 BoM from a total of 272 Board of Management members. Result findings showed that partnering with Non-governmental Organizations influences provision of quality education. Based on research finding was also concluded that BoM partnership with Non-governmental Organizations influences provision of quality education. Key words: Boards of Management, Non-Governmental Organizations, quality education

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of Drug and Substance-Abusing Families on Parental Participation in the Management of Students’ Discipline in Public Day Secondary Schools in Kenya

Research paper thumbnail of Head teacher characteristics that influence curriculum implementation

European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Board of Managements’ Initiatives Influencing Quality Education in Secondary Schools in Kajiado, Kenya

Journal of Education, Dec 17, 2017

The purpose of the study was to investigate the initiatives of the Board of Management that influ... more The purpose of the study was to investigate the initiatives of the Board of Management that influences the provision of quality education in secondary schools in Kajiado West-sub County, Kajiado County. The study employed a descriptive survey design since the data to be collected required a quantitative and qualitative approach. The study targeted 42 public secondary schools in Kajiado County. Sixteen schools (16) were randomly selected from a pool of 42 schools in Kajiado County. Census technique was used to select 16 principals from selected schools. Further, simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 108 BoM from a total of 272 Board of Management members. Result findings showed that management of physical resources, teachers' professional development influences provision of quality education. Based on research finding it can be concluded that involving Board of Management initiative in the management of physical resources, teacher professional development influences provision of quality education. The Board should ensure that teachers' professional development is supported through in service training. It is also recommended that school resources be spend sparingly and appropriately in acquiring learning materials, constructing classes, laboratories and recruiting extra Board teachers in order to enhance quality education.

Research paper thumbnail of Influence of Collaborative Methods on Pupil’s Performance in English Language in Kenya Certificate of Primary Education in Non Formal Schools in Korogocho, Nairobi, Kenya

Journal of Education and Practice, 2017

The aim of this study was to establish the influence of collaborative classroom teaching on pupil... more The aim of this study was to establish the influence of collaborative classroom teaching on pupil's performance in English language in Kenya Certificate of primary education in non formal primary schools in Korogocho, Nairobi Kenya. The objectives of the study were to determine the extent to which learning in groups influence performance, influence of group assignment on pupils performance, the relationships between group discussions and performance in English language. The study was based on Instructional theory, and employed descriptive research design. The target population was 78 non formal primary schools, 78 directors, 180 teachers of English and 780 Pupils. Data was collected by means of questionnaires, focus group discussion and lesson observation guide. Data was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient to test the relationship between dependent and independent variables. The study established that performance in English language was below average. It was also established that performance was affected by the instructional methods applied by teachers. Pearson's correlation coefficient results showed that collaborative method had significant relationships with performance in English language. This study is expected to provide useful information on instructional methods to be used in primary schools. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education should encourage the use of collaborative method in primary schools in Kenya. The study concludes that, teachers in Non formal schools should be exposed to the modern methods of teaching.

Research paper thumbnail of Influence Of Lecture Method On Pupil’s Performance In English Language In Kenya Certificate Of Primary Education In Non Formal Schools In Korogocho, Nairobi Kenya

International journal of humanities and social science, 2017

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of pedagogical practices on pupil's performa... more The aim of this study was to determine the influence of pedagogical practices on pupil's performance in English language in Kenya Certificate of primary education in non formal primary schools in Korogocho, Nairobi Kenya. The objectives of the study were; to establish the influence of lecture method on pupils' performance in English language, to determine whether demonstration method influence pupils' performance in English language, to determine whether dictation of notes in class influence pupils' performance in English language and to establish whether orderliness in class influence pupils' performance in English language. The study was based on Instructional theory by Charles Regeiluth. The study adopted descriptive research design. Target population was 78 non formal primary schools, 78 directors, 180 teachers of English and 780 pupils. Purposive sampling was used to select 23 non formal primary schools, 23 directors were sampled by census 54 teachers were purposively selected and solvins formula was used to select 264 pupils. Content validity of the questionnaires was obtained by expert's judgment. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to test the relationship between lecture method and performance, data was presented in text and in tables. regression and inferential statistics established that the use of lecture method alone correlated negatively to performance at-0.1308. It was established that performance in English was affected by the use of lecture method. The recommendations; alternative use of instructional methods such as collaborative teaching should be used in teaching primary schools, the Ministry of Education to discourage the use of lecture method as it is not suitable for young people. Teachers exposure to the modern methods of teaching is necessary and attend in-service courses, KICD to design curriculum for NFPS. The study was expected to provide significant information on instructional methods to be used in schools. It can be concluded that a combination of instructional methods help boost performance in English language at KCPE

Research paper thumbnail of Environmental Education: Head teachers' instructional leadership in implementation

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of Students’ Exposure to Electronic Media Facilities in Their Homes on Parental Involvement in Management of Students’ Discipline in Public Day Secondary Schools in Kenya

European Scientific Journal, ESJ, Nov 30, 2017

Students' exposure to electronic media facilities and lack of parental supervision has led to ind... more Students' exposure to electronic media facilities and lack of parental supervision has led to indiscipline among students globally. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of students' exposure to electronic media facilities in their homes on parental involvement in management of students' discipline in public day secondary schools in Kitui County, Kenya. The hypothesis was: there is no significant difference in means between students' exposure to electronic media facilities and parental involvement in management of students' discipline. The sample consisted of 70 principals, 86 Form three class teachers and 354 Form three students. The instruments were questionnaires and focus group discussions. A pre-test was used to validate the questionnaires while a test-re-test method was used to determine reliability. Instruments reliability coefficients were 0.78 for head teachers, 0.75 for class teachers and 0.82 for students' questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized for data analysis while the level of significance was set at alpha = 0.05. Based on the results of ANOVA, F (4, 146) =85.548, P = 0.087, the hypothesis was accepted. It was concluded that students' exposure to electronic media facilities influenced parental involvement in management of students' discipline although this was not significant. It was recommended that parents should monitor and control the use of electronic media facilities by their children at home to control students' discipline at school. This paper was drawn out from a study conducted in the year 2016 and 2017 in Kitui County, Kenya.

Research paper thumbnail of Instructional leadership role of head teachers in the implementation of secondary school environmental education in Siaya district, Kenya

Research paper thumbnail of Head teachers’ use of curriculum strategy to curb Drug and Substance Abuse among students in secondary schools, Nairobi County

Research paper thumbnail of Influence of teachers’ communication strategies on students’ discipline in public secondary schools in Mukurwe-ini district, Kenya

International journal of social sciences, 2013

This project is in memory of my late brothers Duncan Wanjohi and Joseph Njuguna and is dedicated ... more This project is in memory of my late brothers Duncan Wanjohi and Joseph Njuguna and is dedicated to my dad Patrick Muriithi and my mum, Mary Wairimu. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT First and foremost is to give thanks to the Almighty God for giving me strength, mental and good health while undertaking this project. I humbly acknowledge, appreciate and wish to thank the University of Nairobi for sponsoring me fully in the entire course. I sincerely acknowledge good work done by my supervisors, Dr Grace Nyagah and Dr. Ursulla Okoth in guiding me in every step and sacrificing their valuable time to advise me in the entire project. I also acknowledge the support and assistance accorded to me by my family, my father Patrick Muriithi and my mother Mary Wairimu and my brother and sister, Charles Wahome and Consolata Muthoni, I am grateful for your patience. I also acknowledge the moral support and encouragement of my dear friend Jane Kamau and Aunt Ann Githui which kept me on the move throughout the entire project. I am also grateful to my respondents both teachers and students of Mukurweini District, for their cooperation as I was undertaking the project. Without their support, this entire project would not have been possible.

Research paper thumbnail of Constituency bursary scheme for secondary schools in Kenya: Challenges of the constituency development fund (CDF)

Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is money put aside by the government for the development of c... more Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is money put aside by the government for the development of communities in Kenya.A constituency is the basic unit for electing a member of parliament. One of the provisions is the bursary scheme for needy children. This is meant to increase access to secondary education among the needy families since education is a right (Children’s Act). The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors that affect the management of the constituency bursary scheme (part of CDF) for needy secondary school students in Kenya. The study aimed at determining the factors considered in allocating bursaries to needy students, identifying mechanisms for targeting needy students, establish if disbursement of funds is timely and if the funds are adequate, and to find out the constraints facing the constituency bursary committee. The study was based on the Classical Liberal Theory of Equal Opportunity. The descriptive survey design was adopted. The target population consisted of principals, students and members of constituency bursary committee. Purposive sampling wasemployed to select 14 secondary schools with boarding facilities from twenty four public secondary schools in Amagoro constituency in Western Kenya.This is because boarding schools are expensive for most parents and yet they perform better in national examinations. Therefore, most parents would prefer boarding schools as they allow more time to students to concentrate in their studies. Purposive sampling was used to select 300 students who had applied for bursary. The 14principals of the sampled schools were automatically selected, while sixteen members of the Constituency Bursary Committee (CBC) were randomly selected for the study. The instruments used for the study were questionnaires for principals and students, and an interview guide for the constituency bursary committee. Documents analysis was conducted on records of students who had applied for bursaries and those who benefited from the bursary scheme for the period 2005 – 2009. Validity of the instruments was enhanced through piloting and review by experts, while reliability was ensured using the test-retest method to compute the Pearson’s Product Moment correlations coefficient. The data collected from the field was coded and entered into the computer for analysis assisted by the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistical analysis was done, included frequencies, means and percentages. The results of data analysis were presented in frequency tables, and pie-charts. Qualitative data was first organized into categories or themes and patterns were created, after which it was analyzed using descriptive statisticsas was done for quantitative data. The study established that the major factors considered in allocating bursaries were special needs, orphans, poor parents and academic performance. The study also established that the mechanisms for targeting needy students were through dissemination of information through principals, teachers and public gatherings. According to the study, the amount of bursary funds awarded to needy students was at most times inadequate, and the disbursement of funds to students was untimely. The study further found that the CBC is faced by various challenges, including insufficient funds allocated to it by the Ministry of Education, late release of these funds, unreliable information provided by applicants, and lack of a reliable database on applicants and beneficiaries. The recommendations to make the bursary scheme more efficient and effective were as follows; the CBC should intensify sensitization of parents/guardians, students, principals and teachers on the factors considered for bursary allocation, and the CBC should be facilitated by Ministry of Education to establish a database of applicants for the bursary scheme to enable the committee fund only the most needy students.The government should allocate more funds to the CBC and remit to the constituency at the beginning of school holidays, and that the Ministry of Education should strengthen the monitoring and evaluation structures of the bursary scheme to ensure that it meets its objectives of assisting the needy hence increasing access to secondary education. The conclusions of thestudy: management of the bursary scheme is affected by inadequacy of funds disbursed to CBC, inadequate communication to stakeholders, ineffective identification of needy students and untimely disbursement of funds to CBC and students. Key terms: Constituency Development Fund Bursary, disbursement, secondary education, access, Kenya Contribution to comparative education This paper is informative as it provides a mechanism that can be used by other developing countries to increase access to secondary education by addressing the short comings.

Research paper thumbnail of Constituency bursary scheme for secondary schools in Kenya: Challenges of the development fund (CDF)

Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is money put aside by the government for the development of c... more Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is money put aside by the government for the development of communities in Kenya.A constituency is the basic unit for electing a member of parliament. One of the provisions is the bursary scheme for needy children. This is meant to increase access to secondary education among the needy families since education is a right (Children’s Act). The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors that affect the management of the constituency bursary scheme (part of CDF) for needy secondary school students in Kenya. The study aimed at determining the factors considered in allocating bursaries to needy students, identifying mechanisms for targeting needy students, establish if disbursement of funds is timely and if the funds are adequate, and to find out the constraints facing the constituency bursary committee. The study was based on the Classical Liberal Theory of Equal Opportunity. The descriptive survey design was adopted. The target population consisted of principals, students and members of constituency bursary committee. Purposive sampling wasemployed to select 14 secondary schools with boarding facilities from twenty four public secondary schools in Amagoro constituency in Western Kenya.This is because boarding schools are expensive for most parents and yet they perform better in national examinations. Therefore, most parents would prefer boarding schools as they allow more time to students to concentrate in their studies. Purposive sampling was used to select 300 students who had applied for bursary. The 14principals of the sampled schools were automatically selected, while sixteen members of the Constituency Bursary Committee (CBC) were randomly selected for the study. The instruments used for the study were questionnaires for principals and students, and an interview guide for the constituency bursary committee. Documents analysis was conducted on records of students who had applied for bursaries and those who benefited from the bursary scheme for the period 2005 – 2009. Validity of the instruments was enhanced through piloting and review by experts, while reliability was ensured using the test-retest method to compute the Pearson’s Product Moment correlations coefficient. The data collected from the field was coded and entered into the computer for analysis assisted by the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistical analysis was done, included frequencies, means and percentages. The results of data analysis were presented in frequency tables, and pie-charts. Qualitative data was first organized into categories or themes and patterns were created, after which it was analyzed using descriptive statisticsas was done for quantitative data. The study established that the major factors considered in allocating bursaries were special needs, orphans, poor parents and academic performance. The study also established that the mechanisms for targeting needy students were through dissemination of information through principals, teachers and public gatherings. According to the study, the amount of bursary funds awarded to needy students was at most times inadequate, and the disbursement of funds to students was untimely. The study further found that the CBC is faced by various challenges, including insufficient funds allocated to it by the Ministry of Education, late release of these funds, unreliable information provided by applicants, and lack of a reliable database on applicants and beneficiaries. The recommendations to make the bursary scheme more efficient and effective were as follows; the CBC should intensify sensitization of parents/guardians, students, principals and teachers on the factors considered for bursary allocation, and the CBC should be facilitated by Ministry of Education to establish a database of applicants for the bursary scheme to enable the committee fund only the most needy students.The government should allocate more funds to the CBC and remit to the constituency at the beginning of school holidays, and that the Ministry of Education should strengthen the monitoring and evaluation structures of the bursary scheme to ensure that it meets its objectives of assisting the needy hence increasing access to secondary education. The conclusions of thestudy: management of the bursary scheme is affected by inadequacy of funds disbursed to CBC, inadequate communication to stakeholders, ineffective identification of needy students and untimely disbursement of funds to CBC and students. Key terms: Constituency Development Fund Bursary, disbursement, secondary education, access, Kenya Contribution to comparative education This paper is informative as it provides a mechanism that can be used by other developing countries to increase access to secondary education by addressing the short comings.