Assessment of Classroom Intervention Strategies for Class Three Pupils with Learning Disabilities in Public Primary Schools in Mathira West, Nyeri County, Kenya
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Date
2016-05
Authors
Murage, Margaret Wanjiru.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Learning disability is a problem that may be found among children of all origin
throughout the world. What is of concern is that the problem has been persistent over the
years among children in public primary schools in Mathira West Sub County. A number
of school children in their early years, are experiencing learning disabilities as identified
through a base-line survey. There however appears to be limited research studies
conducted in the. area on strategies teachers use to arrest the problem and hence the need for this study. The purpose of this study was therefore to find out classroom intervention strategies for class three pupils experiencing learning disabilities in pubic primary schools in Mathira West Sub County, Kenya. The objectives of the study were to: establish the methods used in teaching class three pupils with LD, to investigate the teachers' competencies in identifying causes of learning disabilities, find out the teachers' attitude towards pupils with learning disabilities, and determine the type of instructional materials used in teaching class three pupils with learning disabilities. The study was conducted in Mathira West Sub County, Nyeri County in Kenya, and was guided by Albert Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) of 1997. The descriptive research design was adopted for the study. A sample size of 11 (30%) schools was selected randomly from a target of 35. Purposive selection of the 11 head teachers from the above sampled schools, random selection of 11 class three teachers out of 50 formed the study sample. Questionnaires for teachers and head teachers as well as an observation check list were used to collect data.Piloting was conducted in two schools to ascertain that the research instruments were well constructed and their validity was ascertained by ensuring that the content used conforms to the research objectives. The study employed test retest technique to pilot the instruments. The Pearson correlation coefficient was computed and found to be 0.78.Qualitative data was analyzed by sorting, editing, coding, classifying, categorizing and making themes related to research questions. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate, the mean, frequencies and percentages using the computer Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings were presented in tables, graphs, and pie charts.The study established that; There were at least three pupils with LD in every class,teaching methods were inappropriate, teachers were not competent in identifying the causes of learning disabilities, teachers had a negative attitude towards learners with LD and made no provisions for them while instructional materials used by class three teachers were generally inadequate.Based on these findings, the study recommends; in service training courses for lower primary school teachers, sensitization programs to address the negative attitude towards children with LD and use of a wide variety of teaching methods and instructional materials.
Description
A Research Project Report Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of Degree of Master of Early Childhood Education of Kenyatta University May, 2016