Effect of Teacher Quality on Student Performance in Mathematics in Secondary Schools in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya
Loading...
Date
2016
Authors
Miriti, Gerald Julius
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The Kenyan education system is evaluation oriented. Excellent acquisition of
numeracy and literacy skills are the majors indicators of quality education. The
purpose of this study was to assess the teacher based factors affecting the student's
performance in mathematics in the public secondary schools in Maara sub-county,
Tharaka Nithi County. The study was guided by the following objectives: to
establish how the teacher job satisfaction affects the students performance in
mathematics in the public secondary schools, to find out how the teacher motivation
affects the student performance in mathematics in the public secondary schools, to
establish the effects of teacher training and experience on the performance in
mathematics in the public secondary schools and to establish the strategies that can
be employed to improve on the performance in mathematics in the public secondary
schools in Maara sub-county. The target population for this study was all the 1140
form three students, 128 mathematics teachers and 49 headteachers in the 49
secondary schools in Maara sub-county, Tharaka Nithi County. A sample of 12
schools was proportionately sampled to participate in the study. From the sampled
schools, the head teacher was purposively sampled, 10 students from form 3 were
randomly sampled, to participate in the study. The study instruments were
questionnaires and interview schedule. Piloting was done in two schools. This study
employed descriptive and inferential' statistics to analyze the data obtained. For
descriptive statistics, this specifically included percentages and frequency counts,
while for inferential statistics was used to find the effects. The data obtained was
presented through tables, bar graphs and pie charts. The study established that the
mathematics teachers in Tharaka Nithi County were satisfied with their jobs, and
this had a positive influence on the student's performance in mathematics, as was
revealed by the corelational analysis. This implies that the increase in the variables
of teacher job satisfaction, led to a direct increase in performance in mathematics.
The mathematics teachers in secondary schools in Tharaka Nithi County were well
motivated by the school management. Motivation was found to have a significant
positive relationship with the student's performance. This means that with the
increase in motivation, there was a significant positive increase in student's
'Performance in mathematics. The teachers training and experience was also found to
have a considerable significance in determining the student's performance. This
implies that with the increase in the variables related to teacher training, there was a
positive significant increase in student's performance in mathematics. Based on the
study findings, the researcher recommends that: The ministry of education should
fund the schools in order to provide more incentives to the mathematics teachers, in
order to make them more satisfied in their jobs. The headteachers should consider
team building for the workers and motivation for the workers and the students, as a
means of improving the performance. The government should review the current
teacher training curriculum and include in it the emerging trends and issues in the
field of education. The government through the ministry of education should
increase the funding in the secondary schools, so as to enable them buy enough
teaching and learning materials, and revision materials, so as to improve on the
academic performance,
Description
A Research Project Submitted to the School of Education in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirement for Award of the Degree Master of Education (Planning) of Kenyatta University