Educational barriers and academic performance of physically handicapped learners in bondo district, kenya.

ABSTRACT

Comparatively the number of physically handicapped learners enrolled in the regular schools is still low yet every effort is being made to increase the number. The researcher wanted to find out whether various educational barriers hinder their academic achievements or not. In order to do this study the researchers embarked on a descriptive survey kind of research. He tested two variables that is educational barrier (attitudes, facirities teaching methods learning environment) against another variable. called academic performance. The researchers targeted Bondo districts in Kenya which had 236 schools. For efficiency he singled out Usigu division which had 39 schools, 240 teachers and 7800 pupils and 39 head teachers By random sampling he selected 60 teachers, 240 pupil and 15 Head teachers. Then he used the following strata for the selected 15 schools. Schools near the lakes 5, schools in urban setting 3 and schools from the interior 7. Questionnaires were used in the study and both male and female pupils were randomly selected from std. 6 to 8. Questionnaires were sent to schools. From the responses it emerged that teachers had negative attitude towards these learners, t_here were no suitable learning facilities, the learning. facilities were not yet well modified and the teachers werE; also not yet weir trained to the capacity to handle these learners. The researchers' recommendations were that a lot of sensitization should be augmented in order to remove stigma and enhance positive attitudes.