Resource Allocation and Students’ Performance in Chemistry in K.C.S.E in Selected Public Secondary Schools In Tharaka South District

ABSTRACT This study aimed at finding out the relationship between the current educational resources allocation to chemistry departments and the effect it has on students’ performance in chemistry in national examinations. The study was guided by two objectives; to find out students’ performance in chemistry in K C S E from 2006 to 2009 and to find out whether resources allocated to chemistry departments contribute to students’ performance in Chemistry in KCSE~ This study adopted descriptive survey design. A total of 210 students were considered for the study. Six principals of selected schools were interviewed and ten chemistry teachers were involved in this study. The primary data was collected by using two sets of structured questionnaires, one for teachers and another for students~ The interview schedule was administered to principals of the schools under study. Secondary data was used for literature review. To determine the sample size, a formula developed by Kathuri and pals (1993) was used to select the schools for the study, purposive sampling was used~ All teachers of chemistry in the selected schools under study were involved in the study. This study was wholly descriptive hence used simple measures of central tendency to analyze the data. The findings of the study revealed that; students performance in chemistry in KCSE for the last four years (2006-2009) had been poor, in-service training programme of teachers was Jacking~ It was found out that students were not adequately exposed to experiments and field trips~ It also found out that most students came from poor economic backgrounds. The conclusion drawn indicated that students’ poor performance in chemistry was affected by poor resource allocation by school management to chemistry departments. The studies recommend that there is a need for the ministry of education at large and schools in particular to carry out a detailed facilities analysis in regard to students’ performance in sciences. It recommends for further studies to find out other factors affecting poor performance of students in chemistry at national exams and the relationship between performance in Mathematics and that of chemistry. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Declaration A. . . . . . . . ....... .. . . . ..... . . . . . . .... .~ii

Approval

Declaration B ~. . . . ..~

. iv

Dedication .~...... . .. ... v

Acknowlegdgement . .. . .. .~. ...........vi

List of TabI’es. ~.. . ..... .. .......~ ~.~vii

Acronyms

Abstract ix

Table of Contents ~..~ .

Chapter

One THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE ~,.., ~.~.1

BackgrouncfOfThe Study 1

Statement Of The Problem 6

Purpose Of The Study 7

Research Objectives 7

Research Questions 7

Hypothesis 7

Scope 8

Significance Of The Study 8

Operational Definitions Of Key Terms 9

Two REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Introduction 11

Theoretical Perspectives 11

Related Studies 14

x

Three METHODOLOGY

Research Design 26

Research Population 26

Research Instruments 28

Validity And Reliability Of The Instruments 28

Data Gathering Procedures 29

Data Analysis 29

Ethical Considerations 29

Limitations Of The Study 29

Four PRESENTATION , ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

Research Question 1 31

Research Question 2

Five FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 50

Findings 50

Conclusions 51

Recommendations 52

References 55

APPENDICES

Appendix I: Transmittal Letter 59

Appendix II: Required Size for Randomly chosen sample table 60

Appendix Ill: Interview schedule for principals 61

Appendix IV: Questionnaire for teacher 63

Appendix V: Questionnaire for students 65

Appendix VI: Checklist 67

Researchers Curriculum Vitae 68