Educational Resources and Pupils’ Academic Performance in Selected Primary Schools in Chania Zone, Gatundu District, Kenya

ABSTRACT This study set out to establish whether there is a strong correlation between educational resources and pupils’ academic performance in Chania zone Gatundu district Kenya. It was guided by three specific objectives and tested three hypotheses, that included establishing whether there is a strong correlation between; I) physical; ii) human; and iii) material resources and pupils’ academic performance. Using a descriptive correlational survey design, the researcher administered a questionnaire to 67 teachers, selected following Krejcie and Morgan suggestions. Data analysis using SPSS’s means and standard deviations revealed that; i) physical resources (mean index=2.71 or z3); ii) human resources (mean index=~2); and material resources (mean index=2.68 or ~3) were insufficiently available in the sampled schools. Bivariate analysis using Pearson’s Linear Correlation coefficient showed that; i) physical resources are not significantly correlated with pupils’ academic performance (r= 0.110, sig. = 0.374); ii) Human resources are significantly correlated with pupils’ academic performance (r= 0.68, sig. = 0.000); and iii) material resources are significantly correlated with pupils’ academic performance (r= 0.27, sig. = 0.000). Basing on these findings, the researcher concluded that; i) physical resources can only have a significant impact on pupils’ academic performance, if there are adequate human and material resources; ii) existence of adequate human resources significantly improves pupils’ academic performance, even if physical resources are not very adequate; and iii) existence of adequate material resources significantly improves pupils’ academic performance even physical resources are not so adequate. The researcher recommended that if primary schools in Chania zone are to improve pupils’ academic performance they should focus more on improving and increasing their human resources and material resources than focusing on physical resources. On material resources schools should focus more on good text books, maps, charts and viii audio-visual materials, while on human resources, schools should focus more on teacher qualification, experience and the number as compared to pupils.