Influence of Institutional Resource Utilization on Students’ Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools in Makueni County, Kenya
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Date
2023
Authors
Peter, Agnetta Mwikali
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
kenyatta university
Abstract
School resource utilisation is important in the functioning of learning institutions as it enhances better achievement of school goals. There is evidence of poor performance in public secondary schools in Makueni County and hence the reason to have conceptualized this study. The purpose of this study was to examine institutional resource utilization and its influence on academic performance in secondary schools in Makueni County. The objectives of this study were to: establish the level of utilization of textbooks and its influence on students’ academic performance; determine the level of utilization of school infrastructure and its influence on students’ academic performance; establish the level of utilization of teacher resources and its influence on academic performance and lastly to determine the level of utilisation of instructional materials and its influence on academic performance in county secondary schools in Makueni County. The study adopted mixed methods research design, specifically convergent parallel research design and was supported by Education Production Function Theory. Research instruments were questionnaires, document analysis and interview schedule. Validity was achieved through expert judgment and reliability by test-retest technique. The target population was 60 county secondary schools, 60 principals and 1004 teachers. Simple random and stratified sampling techniques were used to select the schools while systematic and purposive sampling was used to sample teachers, HoDs and principals. The selected sample was 30 county schools, 30 principals and 286 teachers inclusive of HoDs. Total number of respondents was 316. Descriptive and inferential statistics (means, percentages and multiple regression) and thematic analysis worked out the level of utilization of textbooks, school infrastructure, teachers and instructional resources on students’ academic performance. The findings showed that utilisation of textbooks had a mean of 4.06, high correlation coefficient of 0.664. Multiple regression showed that textbooks strongly influenced learners’ academic performance. Utilisation of school infrastructure, teacher resources and instructional materials showed moderate means of 3.86, 3.68 and 3.71 respectively. The multiple regression revealed moderate influence existed between their utilisation and students’ academic performance. Qualitative data revealed different themes meant that effective utilization of textbooks, utilisation of school infrastructure, teacher resources and instructional materials positively influenced students’ academic performance in county secondary schools in Makueni County. Major conclusion was that there was needed to ensure effective utilisation of institutional resources in order to improve academic performance. Major recommendation included that the Ministry (MoE) to conduct seminars to teachers on utilisation of institutional resources. This study would provide important information useful to education policy makers in formulating additional policies leading to effective utilisation of resources in secondary schools.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment for the Requirement of the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Educational Planning and Economics of Education) in the School of Education and Lifelong Learning of Kenyatta University
Keywords
Resource Utilization, Academic Performance, Public Secondary Schools, Makueni County, Kenya