The Effects of School Based Factors on Academic Performance in Public Primary Schools in Njiru Sub County, Nairobi Ken

Abstract

The study explored effects of school based factors on academic performance in public primary schools in Njiru Sub County. Academic performance is a product of socio-economic status, psychological and environmental factors. Education in Kenya plays an important role in every part of life for instance political, economic and social development. Secondary school placement and admission depends entirely on the achievement in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (K.C.P.E) in standard eight. Today even sponsorship that children from poor parents are supposed to benefit is offered according to the performance in the K.C.P.E results. In Njiru Sub county there has been a relatively below average academic performance. The study used a sample of six schools, six headteachers and one hundred and forty one teachers. The sampling procedure used by the research was the use of 30% of the target population of 18 headteachers and 470 teachers drawn from schools in Njiru Sub County. The respondents were 6 headteachers and 141 teachers. Random sampling was used to arrive at schools, and teachers. The research instruments used were questionnaires, interviews and observation. The researcher used descriptive survey design and then adopted mixed methods methodology. The research was based on the Effective Schools Model Theory. Data collection was done after obtaining permission from University of Kabianga and a research permit from NACOSTI. It was also concluded that majority of the schools in Njiru do not have enough textbooks which affected their performance. The study recommends that teachers need to be encouraged to undergo professional growth which will help them to maintain and improve their skills on, quality teaching, classroom maintenance and performance of learners.