ABSTRACT The research embarks on investigating the impacts of free primary education on academic performance of primary school pupils. The purpose of this study it will be to fmd out the impacts of free primary education on academic performance of primary school pupils with Nguluni Primary School in Kambu Zone, Kibwezi District of Kenya being a case study. It will also give recommendations to the government, policy makers, educators parents and general public. The objectives will be to establish whether the teacher pupils ratio in our public primary schools is acceptable, to establish whether resources offered by the government to implement free primary education are sufficient and to determine whether the funds reimbursed by the government for the same properly managed. A descriptive survey design will be used in this study. In conclusion it is indicative that the teacher pupils ratio is low and sometimes resources for implementing a free primary education are properly used the recommendations are therefore that a number of teachers in our public primary schools should be increased and be highly paid as a way of motivating them. The resources offered by the government towards implementing the free primary education should also be appropriate used.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Declaration ......................................................................................................... ii

Approval ............................................................................................................ iii

Dedication ......................................................................................................... iv

Acknowledgement ............................................................................................... v

Table of Contents .............................................................................................. vi

List of Acronyms ............................................................................................... viii

List of Tables ..................................................................................................... ix

List of Figures ..................................................................................................... x

Abstract ............................................................................................................ xi

CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................. 1

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 1

1.1 Background of the Study .............................................................................. 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem .............................................................................. 2

1.3 Purpose of the Study .................................................................................... 3

1.3.1 This study was guided by the following research questions: ....................... 4

1.4 Research Objectives ...................................................................................... 4

1.4.1 General Objectives ..................................................................................... 4

1.4.2 Specific objectives ...................................................................................... 4

1.5 Scope and Limitation of the Study ................................................................ 4

1.6 Significance of the Study .............................................................................. 5

1. 7 Conceptual Framework ................................................................................. 7

1.8 Operational Definition of Terms .................................................................... 8

CHAPTER TWO .................................................................................................. 9

LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................ 9

2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 9

2.2 Challenges facing free primary education .................................................... 12

2.3 Key players in implementing free primary education ................................... 19

vi

2.3.1 Government contribution ......................................................................... 19

2.3.2 Parents .................................................................................................... 20

2.3.3 Head teachers and management committees ............................................ 20

2.4 Challenges .................................................................................................. 21

CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................ 23

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ........................................................................... 23

3.0 Introduction ............................................................................................... 23

3.1 Research Design ......................................................................................... 23

3.2 Location of the Study .................................................................................. 23

3.3 Target population ....................................................................................... 24

3.4 Sample and Sampling Procedure ................................................................. 24

3.5 Data Collection Instruments ....................................................................... 24

3.5.1 Questionnaires ........................................................................................ 24

3.6 Data Collection Procedures ......................................................................... 24

3.7 Data Analysis ............................................................................................. 25

CHAPTER FOUR .............................................................................................. 26

DISCUSSIONS .................................................................................................. 26

CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................... 29

FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION ........................................ 29

5.1 Findings ..................................................................................................... 29

5.2 Research Conclusion .................................................................................. 31

5.3Recommendations ....................................................................................... 34

REFERENCES .................................................................................................. 35

APPENDICES ................................................................................................... 38

APPENDIX I: QUESTIONNAIRE ......................................................................... 38

APPENDIX II: LETTER OF INTRODUCTION ..................................................... 41