Infrastructure Resources and Performance of Primary Schools Under Free Primary Education in Selected Schools Eldoret, Kenya

ABSTRACT The govern~ment of Kenya introduced free primary education in the year 2003. This was very well received all over the, country due to the reduced burden on parents who were unable to pay school fees for their children. However during the initial implementation stages, it was realized that the country had limited physical infrastructure to be able to handle the ever increasing enrolment of students in primary schools. The government through the Kenya Education Sector Support Program developed various initiatives to be able to improve these shortages in infrastructure. This study was intended to determine the infrastructure capacity of the schools in Kenya, with a study in Eldoret Municipality. The various physical infrastructures were categorized into various groups and the various infrastructure groups compared to the set standards by the government and other recognized bodies. The study was conducted on selected primary schools within the selected samples that were chosen through Simple Random Sampling and Stratified Random Sampling. The main respondents targeted were the head teachers and education officials from Eldoret Municipal Council. The data was collected through questionnaires, interviews and Observation techniques. The findings of the study indicated that the existing infrastructure in a high number of the schools were not sufficient to provide the students with a good learning environment. Lack of adequate and appropriate classrooms, vi staifrooms and toilet facilities to the required standards were prevalent in most schools. With a good number of the schools lacking electricity, proper access roads and accessibility to safe drinking water. The measures put in place by the government in reducing the gap of the insufficient infrastructure are taking a slow pace and proper measures need to be taken to ensure that the quality of education is not hindered due to inadequate infrastructure in the existing schools.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Page

One THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE. 1

Background of the Study. 1

Statement of the Problem. 3

Purpose of the Study. 4

Research ObjectIves. 5

Research QuestIons. 5

HypothesIs. 6

Scope. 6

Significance of the Study. 7

Conceptual Frame Work 8

Two REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE. 9

IntroductIon. 9

Concepts, Ideas, OpInions From Authors/Experts. 9

Theoretical PerspectIves. 19

Related StudIes. 22

Three METHODOLOGY. 28

Research DesIgn. 28

Research Population. 28

Sample SIze. 29

SamplIng Procedure. 29

Research Instrument 30

Vaftdlty and RelIabIlity of the Instrument. 31

Data GatherIng Procedures. 32

Data AnalysIs. 34

EthIcal ConsideratIons. 34

Umltations of the Study. 35

Four PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF

DATA~ 36

Percentage distribution of schools based on reliability of

water supply. 36

Average mean scores of schools with and without

reliable water supply. 36

Percentage distribution of schools based on their Water

Source. 37

Average mean scores of schools based on connection

to water supply system. 37

Percentage distribution of schools based on

power availability. 38

Average Mean score of schools based on connection

power supply. 39

Percentage distribution of schools based on type of

access road. 39

Average mean score of schools based on type of

access road. 40

Percentage distribution of schools buildings based

on the building materials. 41

Average mean score of schools based on type of

walling material. 41

Percentage distribution of schools buildings based

on the roofing materials. 42

Average Mean score of schools based on type

roofing material. 42

Area per student (sqm) in classrooms. 43

Area per teacher in staffrooms on schools sample. 44

Number of students/teachers population In schools

per toIlet fadlltles. 45

Five FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS 47

FindIngs 47

Conduslons 49

RecommendatIons 50

References 52

AppendIces 59

AppendIx I-Research Instrument 62

Appendbc II- Researcher’s Curilculum Vitae 64