Correlation between Class Size and Pupils’ Acquisition of Early Mathematics Competencies: A Case of Kericho County, Kenya

Abstract

Mathematics is one of the core subjects in the Basic Education Curriculum in Kenya. It means that all pupils are required to have a strong grounding in the subject which depends on the level of their early mathematics competencies. The purpose of the study was therefore to establish the level of pupils’ acquisition of early mathematics competencies. The study was also to determine how class size was related to pupils’ acquisition of early mathematics competencies. The study was guided by Social Development Theory by Lev Vygotsky. The study adopted a correlation research design and a mixed research method approach. The dependent variable was pupils’ acquisition of early mathematics competencies while the independent variable was class size. The results from data analysis revealed that majority of the pupils had acquired early mathematics competencies and there was a difference in pupils’ acquisition of early mathematics competencies between grade three pupils in public and those in private primary schools. The relationship between class size and pupils’ acquisition of early mathematics competencies was significant at p<0.05 level of significance