The Impact Of Cdf On Secondary Schools Curriculum Implementation In Nyahururu District, Laikipia County

ABSTRACT

Although curriculum is the key to learning in every learning institution, there have been complaints about poor performance in certain schools, subjects and regions every year resulting from ineffective curriculum development and implementation. The purpose of the study was to find out the impact of CDF on secondary school Curriculum implementation in Nyahururu District.The objectives of the study were to find out the; extent to which CDF has addressed the textbooks shortages, infrastructural shortages, teacher development, and co-curricular activities in secondary schools within the District.The study was carried out on a population of 39 respondents, composed of 7 members of Constituency Development Committee (CDC) and 32 secondary school principals. The researcher used saturated sampling method to collect data from the principals, and purposive sampling method used to the project manager of CDC. The researcher used questionnaires to collect data from the principals and in-depth interviews on the DEO and CDC. Instruments were first prepared and taken to two experts in the area from Kenyatta University to assess their content validity. Questionnaires were first piloted in 2 secondary school principals using Test Retest method in an interval of 2 weeks. The results of the piloted questionnaires were compared, and calculated to be significant at a Crowbatch alpha correlation coefficient of .75.The study was carried out using descriptive survey research design.The researcher secured an introductory letter from Kenyatta University that was used to apply for permission to carry out the study from the Ministry of Education through Nyahururu D.E.O. Questionnaires required the respondents to be anonymous for confidentiality. Qualitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, while in quantitative data, frequency counts were converted into percentages with the help of S.P.S.S computer package. The researcher found out that from 2003 to 2012, CDF has significantly contributed to curriculum implementation in secondary schools of Nyahururu district. CDFamounting to K.Shs. 350,000 was allocated to 14 schools to address textbooks shortages;K.Shs. 17,180,000 was allocated to different schools for the construction of laboratories, classrooms, dormitories, offices, libraries and furniture. On the other hand, CDF has improved the capacity of teachers in the district through seminars, and CDF bursaries worth K.Shs. 8000 each to 42 teachers on further studies. Finally on co-curricular activities, CDF has promoted games and sports, music and drama, clubs and societies through training, buying equipment and competitions. These findings was tabulated and presented through the project. The researcher therefore concluded that CDF has promoted secondary education in the district through addressing text book shortages, infrastructural development, teacher development and co-curricular activities. The researcher recommended that more CDF should be allocated to secondary education, community be sensitized on the role of CDF in promoting secondary education, and schools in the district to fund raise from other donors in order to improve secondary education.Further research should be carried out on environmental challenges facing curriculum implementation in Nyahururu District