Abstract The study dwelled into the impact of free primary education on the academic performance of pupils in KCPE in public schools with the aim of determining the causes of poor performance, current learning conditions and the extent to which free primary education ha affected the performance of pupils. The study was carried out in Kiriita location, nyandarua District and it utilized the head teachers of the six schools in that location, 46teachers and 124 pupils of the same schools. The findings of the study were sought to be beneficial to various people; policy makers, head teachers educatio11 officers and the government. The study based the work of other people which was in relation to the study. The explanatory design was employed and a researcher made questionnaire was administered to collect the intended information. The information attained from the field was analyzed using Microsoft excel and presented in form tables and graphs. The study attained several findings; there was no significant relation ship between free primary education and academic performance of pupils, there decreasing levels of staffing, the administration is inefficient as a result of overwhelming number of pupils and the resultant fatigue, The teacher to pupil's ratio also deteriorated over the same period to that effect and basing on the finding, the researcher had recommendations; Hire more teachers, especially younger staff to avoid a possible staffing crunch due to mass retirement, Improve infrastructure especially in rural schools to ease access for inspection by education officers, sufficient funding should be availed. The researcher also suggested areas for further research like, Levels of Staffing in Free Primary Education and Academic Performance of Students, The Competence of Teacher in Free Primary Education and the Academic Performance of Students and Motivation of Teachers in Free Primary Education and Academic Performance of Students.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS ..

Declaration ......................................................................................................................... .i 

Dedication .......................................................................................................................... ii 

Acknowledgement ........................................................................................................... iii 

TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................................... .iv 

Acronyms ......................................................................................................................... vii 

Operational Definitions of Terms ................................................................................ viii 

Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ix 

Chapter One ....................................................................................................................... 1 

General Introduction ..................................................... : ................................................... 1 

Rationale of the study ...................................................................................................... 1 

Objectives ....................................................................................... 0 ................................... 4 

General Objectives ..................................................................... · ....................................... 4 

Specific Objectives ............................................................................................................ 4 

Statement of the null hypothesis .................................................................................... 4 

Significance of the study ............................................... : ............................... '. ................. .4 

Chapter Two ....................................................................................................................... 7 

Literature review ............................................................................................................... 7 

Chapter Three ...................................................................................... , ........................... 17 

Research methodology ........................................................... · ........................................ 17 

Research Design .............................................................................................................. 1 7 

Research Environment. ................................................................................................... 17 

Research Respondents ................................................................................................... 17 

Sample Size Determination ............................................................................................ 18 

Research Instrument ...................................................................................................... 18 

Data Collection Procedures ............................................................................................ 18 

Statistical Treatment of Data ......................................................................................... 19 

Limitations of the Study ................................................................................................. 19 

Chapter Four .................................................................................................................... 20 

Data Analysis and Interpretation .................................................................................. 20 

Head teacher responses and analysis ........................................................................ ,.20 

Enrolment, staffing, and KCPE performance trends 2003 - 2006 ........................... 22 

1.3: Teacher: pupils' ratio 2003 - 2006 in Kiriita location ........................................ 24 

Teacher responses and analysis ................................................................................... 27 

Comparison between lessons taught and number of subjects per week ............... 29 

Standard 8 responses and analysis .............................................................................. 30 

Chapter Five ..................................................................................................................... 33 

Summary of Findings, Conclusion, Recommendations and Areas for Further 

Research ........................................................................................................................... 33 

Research Finding ............................................................................................................. 33 

The study had the following findings; .......................................................................... 33 

Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 34 

Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 34 

Areas for Further Research ............................................................................................ 35 

References ........................................................................................................................ 3 6 

APP ED IX A ........................................................................................................................ 37 

QUESTIONNAIRE - HEADTEACHERS (Ki) ................................................................ 37 

Instructions: ..................................................................................................................... 37 

APPENDIX B ..................................................................................................................... 39 

QUESTIONNAIRE - TEACHERS (K2) .......................................................................... 39 

Instructions: ..................................................................................................................... 39 

APPENDIX C ..................................................................................................................... 41 

QUESTIONNAIRE - PUPILS (KS) ................................................................................. .41 

Instructions: ..................................................................................................................... 41 

APPEDIX D ........................................................................................................................ 42 

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND ..................................................................................... .42 

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE ................................................................................................ 42 

Course ............................................................................................................................... 42 

Title of Study .................................................................................................................. ~.42 

Supervisor ......................................................................................................................... 42