STUDY TO INVESTIGATE FACTORS RELATING TO POOR PERFORMANCE IN CHEMISTRY IN KAKAMEGA NORTH DISTRICT MIXED DAY SCHOOLS

ABSTRACT

The study purposed to establish factors that influence poor performance in chemistry in

mixed day schools in Kakamega North district. The district has 14 Secondary that have

presented candidates to KCSE, 64.5% of which are district mixed day schools.

The study targeted 2 mixed day schools, in the district 153 students, form 4Chemistry

teachers and 2 head teachers from two schools: Silungai Secondary School and Lwandeti

Secondary Schools.

The researchers used purposive non - probability sampling technique to select the

schools covered by the study, Chemistry teachers and head teachers from the sampled

schools. Both purposive and lottery sample random sampling technique were used to

select students, the study targeted. Purposive sampling technique was used in classes that

were highly heterogeneous.

Three types of research tools were used to elicit data: questionnaires, observations,

guidelines, and interviews.

The data was collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics: percentages, average,

ratios, graphs and tables. Pearson product moment method of determining correlation

coefficient was used to determine the correlation between students' performance in

Chemistry and mathematics to provide the basis for subject choice.

The study revealed that there is a positive between staff stability vertical teaching,

availability of learning resources and facilities student's attitudes and aspirations,

frequency of testing, and students' achievement. However, teachers' characteristics such

as age, workload and overlap of responsibilities, relate negatively with students'

achievement.

The research also showed that the two schools and adequate learning resources, teachers

were overloaded, students had negative attitude and low aspiration; practical experiments

are hardly done and test were rarely administered. This implies that most schools have

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