Effects of teaching Christian religious Education as an elective subject on students' behavior in secondary schools in Mwea division, Mbeere district, Kenya

Abstract

Abstract This study sought to investigate the consequences of making Christian Religious Education an elective subject in the Kenyan secondary schools with focus on Mwea Division of Mbeere district, eastern province. This study was significant in Highlighting the problems posed by clustering and labelling some subjects as more Superior than others leading to adverse manpower imbalances being experienced Particularly in teaching profession. The study used survey design which obtained Descriptive data as well as show the existing relationships between variables. The Study targeted 440 form three students taking religious education in all the secondary Schools in Mwea division of Mbeere district. The study participants included 220 Students, 11 heads of humanities departments, and 12 CRE teachers selected from 11 Secondary schools in Mwea division. The researcher used questionnaires; interview Guides and observation schedule in data collection. Validity of the instruments was Determined by two lecturers considered to be experts in the field while test-retest Method was used to determine the reliability of the instruments. Quantitative data was Analyzed using the statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS) while qualitative Data was analyzed using MAXqda and data presented thematically. The study Established that majority of the students from secondary schools in Mwea division of Mbeere district had positive attitudes toward CRE. However, despite these positive Attitudes, a number of factors affected their choice of the subject. The schools did not Have adequate resources for teaching and learning of CRE, and students are Discouraged by parents and peers from choosing the subject, ostensibly because the Subject is not required for 'superior' university courses like the sciences. Consequently, those who chose the subject take it because it is considered easy and as A booster subject to raise the grades. Clustering of subjects affect students' choice of CRE in that this limits students' choice of the subject as they tend to choose those Subjects that will assist them in their future careers, and in that CRE is taught at the Same time with some sciences, that is, CRE\physics. This means that a student can Either choose CRE or physics but not both. From the findings of the study, it was Recommended that religious education be made compulsory not an elective to take The place of social education and ethics. This is because it helps in moulding Students' behavior and therefore contributes in the fight against indiscipline. In Addition more resources should be channeled to the teaching of CRE in secondary Schools in Kenya.