School Factors and Students' Academic Performance in Buuri District, Kenya

ABSTRACT This study was cjesigned to correlate school factors and academic performance of students with these aspects sought for in the specific objectives: ( 1) socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents in terms of gender, age, and ievel of education; (2) level of school factors; (3) level of academic performance of students; ( 4) significant differences in level of academic performance between male and female students in secondary schools; (5) relationship between levei of school factors and the lcvei of academic performance of students. The study employed the study employed the ex post facto, descriptive comparative and descriptive correlation design. The validity and reliability of research instruments was established and data was collected from 240 respondents seiected from all secondary schools within Buuri District using the simple random sampling method. To analyze the data, frequencies and percentages, mean score for !eve! of school factors and Pearson product rnorncnl correlation was used with the aim of establishing the relationship between school factors and academic performance of students in schools. On the basis of the findings, the researcher made the following conclusions: (l) the level of school factors was satisfactory irnplyin~; thal on average, the teacher characteristics. sc:hooi facilities/resources and socio-economic faders were all rnoderate; (2) the level of academic performance of students was implied as being good in all forms of assessment with the grade range of 60%-69%; (3) the null hypothesis of no signif1eant differences in level of academic performance between male and female students was rejected; ( 4) the nul! hypothesis of no significant correlation tx;tween the levci of school factors and level of academic performance: of students was accepted hence disproving the systems theory. The· following ·recommendations were made: 1) students be subjected to friendly and mutual trust with, teachers; (2) teachers to check on their dressing code and (3) teachers to exhibit objectiveness, fairness and also accord students respect before their feilow students.

 TABLE OF CONTENT 

One INTRODUCTION 

Background to the study 

Statement of the Problem 

Purpose of the study 

Research Objectives 

Research Questions 

Nuli Hypotheses 

Scope of the study 

Significance of the study 

Operational definition of key terms 

Three 

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 10 

Concepts, Opinions, lcleas from Authors/ Experts 10 

Theoretical Perspective 16 

Related Studies 18 

Summary of Gaps Identified from the Related 

Literature and Related Studies Bridged by this Study 23 

METHODOLOGY 24 

Research Design 24 

Research Population 24 

Target Population 24 

Sample Size 24 

Sampling Procedures 25 

Research Instrument 25 

Validity and Reliability of the lnstrument 26 

Data Gathering Procedures 27 

Data Analysis 

Ethical Considerations 

Limitations of the Study 

Four PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF 

DATA 30 

Socio-Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents 30 

Correlation between the Level of School Factors 

(IV) And Level of Academic Performance of Students 

(DV) 41 

Regression Analysis for Leve! of School Factors and 

Students' Academic Performance 

Five FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 45 

REFERENCES 

APPENDIX I A: 

APPENDIX I B: 

APPENDIX II: 

APPENDIX III: 

APPENDIX V: 

APPENDIX VI: 

APPENDIX VIIA: 

APPENDIX vrrn: 

APPENDIX VIIC: 

CONCLUSIONS 45 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

AREAS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH 

TRANSMITfAL LETTER FROM CHOR 

TRANSMilTAL LETTER FOR THE RESPONDENTS 

CLEARANCE FROM ETHICS COMMrn-EE 

INFORMED CONSENT 

PART 1: FACE SHEET: SOC10--DEMOGRAPHIC 54 

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESPONDENTS 

SAMPLE SIZE COMPUTATION (SLOVEN'S FORMULA) 57 

CONSTRUCT VALIDITY FOR SCHOOL FACTORS 

QUESTIONNAIRE 

REUABlLITY TEST FOR THE QUESTIONNAIRE ON 

SCHOOL FACTORS 

CONSTRUCT VALIDITY FOR ACADEMIC 

PERFORMANCE QUESTIONNAJRE  

APPENDIX VIID: RELIABILITY TEST FOR Tt-1E QUESTIONNAIRE ON 

ACADEMJC PERFORMANCE 61