Causes Of Poor Performance In Kiswahili In Selected Schools Ruaraka Zone Nairobi North District Kenya

ABSTRACT

This study was carried to investigate the problems facing learners with specific learning difficulties in Kiswahili in Ruaraka zone of Nairobi north district. The following objectives guided the study; to establish if the teachers and learners they teach had a negative attitude towards the subject; to find out if in schools, there were adequate teaching learning resources to help carryout instruction in Kiswahili; to assess the methods commonly used in the teaching of Kiswahili. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used. The quantitative and qualitative techniques were used to collect and analyze data. Findings indicate that almost all the schools had relevant Kiswahili teaching/ learning aids which they were using to carryout instruction of the language. Further findings however highlighted that there was a tendency of Kiswahili teachers to over emphasize the use of few selected teaching/learning aids at the expense of others. Recommendations were also made. Teacher trainers need to carryout intensive research with a purpose of identifying the best ways in which the language can be taught to learners in such away that they love it and continue learning it. if it means examining some other subjects in Kiswahili, then let it be done, for this will force even those who hate the language love it for the sake of passing it. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

DECLARATION .................................................................. i 

APPROVAL .................................................................... ii 

DEDICATION ............................................................ iii 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................... iv 

TABLE OF CONTENTS········································ V 

LIST OF TABLES .................................................. viii 

ABSTRACT .............................................................. ix 

CHAPTER ONE .................................................. I 

INTRODUCTION .......................................................... I 

1.0 Overview .............................................................. I 

1.1 Background to the study ......................................... I 

1.2 Statement of the problem ........................................ 2 

1.3 Purpose of the study .............................................. 3 

1.4 Objectives of the study ............................................... 3 

1.5 Research questions .................................................. 3 

1.6 Scope of the study ................................................... 4 

1. 7 Significance of the study .......................................... 4 

1.8 Limitations ............................................................ 5 

CHAPTER TWO ...................................................... 7 

LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................. 7 

2.0 Introduction .................................................. 7 

2.1 Attitudes towards Kiswahili ................................... 7 

2.2 Academic performance ............................................. 9 

2.3 Teaching and learning resources ............................. l O 

2.4 Teaching methods .................................................. 12  

CHAPTER THREE .............................................................. I 7 

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................................................. I 7 

3.1 Research Design ........................................................ 17 

3.2 Study population ................................................. 17 

3.3 Sample framework ........................................................ 17 

3.3.1 Sample size .............................................................. 17 

3.3.3 Sample procedure ......................................... 18 

3.4 Methods for data collection ...................................... 18 

3.4.1 Instruments ........................................................... 18 

3.4.2 Sources of data .......................................................... 18 

3.5 Data processing and analysis ............................................ 19 

CHAPTER FOUR ................................................................. 20 

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION .. 20 

4.0 Introduction .............................................................. 20 

4 .1 Background characteristics of the respondents ............ 20 

4 .1.1 Professional qualification of teachers ........................ 21 

4.1.2 Experience of Kiswahili ........................................ 21 

4.1.3 Age of learners ......................................................... 22 

4.1.4 Performance of learners in Kiswahili and age ............. 23 

4.2 Attitude of the teachers and learners and performance in Kiswahili ................................................................................... 24 

4.2.1 Whether teacher enjoy teaching the subject.. ..... 24 

4.2.2 Why some teachers lack interest in teaching Kiswahili ......... 25 

4.2.3 Learners interest in learning Kiswahili .................. 26 

4.2.4Why some learners lack interest in learning Kiswahili 27 

4.3 Availability of relevant Kiswahili teaching learning aids ............ 28 

4.3.1 Adequacy of Kiswahili teaching learning aids ........................... 29 

4.4 Methods used by teachers to carryout instruction of Kiswahili ......... 30 

4.5 How other languages have negatively impacted the performance in Kiswahili ............... 31 

4.5.1 How English language has negatively affected Kiswahili ...... 31 

4.5.2 Mother tongue interference with the learning of Kiswahili .. 32 

CHAPTER FIVE ................................................................................................... 34 

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND 

RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................................... 34 

5.0 Introduction .............................................................................................. 34 

5.1 Summary of findings .............................................................................. 34 

5.1. l The attitude which teachers and the learners hold towards 

learning Kiswahili ............................................................................................... 34 

5.1.2 Whether schools have adequate learning aids to support the 

teaching and learning of Kiswahili ................................................................ 36 

5.1.3 Methods adopted by teachers to carryout instruction in 

Kiswahili ................................................................................................................. 37 

5.1.4 The effect of other languages on the performance of children 

in Kiswahili ............................................................................................................ 37 

5.2 Conclusion ................................................................................................. 38 

5.3 Recommendations ................................................................................... 39 

REFERENCES ...................................................................................................... 40 

APPENDICES ....................................................................................................... 42 

Appendix A: Questionnaire for Teachers ................................................... 42 

Appendix B: Questionnaire for Learners .................................................... 44