The Implications Of Rapid Expansion Of Day Secondary Schools On Provision Of Quality Education In Imenti South District, Meru County-Kenya

ABSTRACT The expansion of secondary education in Kenya has been on the increase because education received great attention right from the time of independence to the present day. Despite the Government‘s efforts to spearhead this expansion of secondary education in order to enhance access and provide quality education for all, some of the newly established secondary schools have faced numerous challenges which hinder the attainment of this objective. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the implications of rapid expansion of day secondary schools on the provision of quality education in Imenti South District, Meru County. The objectives of the study were: To determine the factors that have led to the rapid establishment of many day secondary schools in the study district, to find out the current status of physical facilities, instructional materials and teacher adequacy in day secondary schools in the study district, to identify the challenges faced by the newly established day secondary schools in the teaching learning process and to assess the effects of rapid expansion of day secondary schools on provision of quality education in the study district. The study employed an exploratory approach using a descriptive survey research design. The survey design enabled the researcher to collect definite information about people attitudes, opinion or any other variety of educational issues. The study targeted 41 day secondary schools with a population of 41 head teachers, 174 teachers and 7,178 students. The research instruments for the study were questionnaires administered to head teachers, teachers and students. Opinion leaders, DQASO and the DEO were interviewed. A pilot study was undertaken to pre-test the reliability of the instruments before the main research was rolled out. Construct validity of the instruments was be assessed by the supervisors. A pilot study allowed for modification of instruments at this stage to improve their reliability and validity. Data was analyzed with the aid of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) The study established that the rapid expansion of day secondary schools was due to desire for affordable low-cost secondary education, long distances to other secondary schools, desire by communities to initiate development projects to promote high transitional rates and a growing population of primary school-leavers desiring secondary education. The study also found that most day secondary schools do not have adequate teachers, physical facilities, and teaching and instruction materials. The recommendations made include the need for the government to institute a comprehensive policy framework to govern the establishment and development of secondary schools. Suggestions for further research made include replication of the same study in other districts in Kenya to establish whether similar findings are obtainable. Bibliography of the literature reviewed and appendices of instruments used is also provided.