Factors Affecting Academic Performance Of Learners With Mental Deficit In Regular Schools Embu Municipality Kenya

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out to investigate the factors affecting academic performance of

learners with mental deficit in regular schools. The study had the following objectives.

To find out whether there are teachers in regular schools with appropriate skills to handle

learners with mental retardation. To find out the attitudes of teachers towards inclusion of

learners with mental deficit in regular schools. The other objective was to find out the

existence of learners with mental retardation in regular schools and to identify the factors

that need to be considered before implementation of education programmes for learners

with mental deficit in regular schools. The findings of the study revealed that untrained

personnel, large number of pupils in a class, competition of the school and class mean

scores, inadequate special facilities and resources, teachers’ negative attitudes towards

learners with mental retardation, unmodified curriculum and lack of awareness in schools

about learners with mental retardation and the importance of their retardation. Some of

the recommendations made out of the findings of the study include: Government policies

on special needs education should be emphasized by the education officers and provincial

administration within Embu municipality. This will help to achieve declaration of

Education For All (EFA). The government should equip the schools with special facilities

and resources needed to handle learner with mental retardation, this will give a chance to

the learners with mental retardation join regular schools, hence improve their academic

performance. More teachers should be trained in special needs education. More teachers

should be employed to assist in handling large classes and a lot of awareness be created in the community on the importance of education for all regardless of individual differences.