Effect of Laboratory Management on Students’ Performance in Physics in Public Secondary Schools in Bomet County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of laboratory management on students’ performance in physics in public secondary schools in Bomet County, Kenya. The objectives of the study were:(i) to evaluate acquisition and utilization of physics laboratory resources on students’ performance in physics,(ii) to determine the efficiency of the schools’ laboratory safety measures in ensuring safety that is vital for students learning and performance in physics (iii)to establish challenges facing the secondary schools in management of physics’ laboratories and their effects on students’ performance in physics and finally(iv) develop strategies of improving physics’ laboratories management that boost students’ performance in physics. The research study employed a descriptive survey study design. The study was guided by Production Function Theory by Mace (2005). A total of 8 public secondary schools were randomly sampled for this study. With a target population of 74608, simple random sampling technique was used to select respondents including 8 Principals, 8 Heads of Science Department,16 physics Teachers,8 laboratory technicians and 160 students, all samples totaling to 200 respondents. The researcher used questionnaires, interview schedules, and observation schedules to collect data. Data obtained was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer package. Responses from questionnaires, interview and observation schedules were organized according to objectives of the study. The findings are presented through descriptive statistics using frequencies, tables, graphs and pie-charts. Laboratory management issues that the study found to have had an effect on the performance of physics included lack of clear in-servicing programs for laboratory personnel, failure to accommodate practical in schools’ internal tests, lack of clear supervision of laboratory teaching/learning programs and failure to embrace participatory decision making in procurement of physics laboratory materials. It was concluded that the schools sampled lacked clear in-servicing programs for their laboratory personnel, practical skills are not tested in most schools’ internal tests, absence of clear supervision programs and failure to embrace participatory system in procurement of lab resources. Recommendation aimed at changing the learner’s attitude toward physics, inclusion of practical in internal schools’ evaluation tests, government to take over both the safety responsibility in schools and employment of laboratory technicians were arrived at. Areas recommended for further research are that similar research be done on private secondary schools, and studies on quality of programs offered to principals on laboratory management.