TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION ....................................................................................... i
APPROVAL ............................................................................................ ii
DEDICATION ......................................................................................... iii
ACKNOWLEDGMENT ............................................................................ iv
DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS .................................................................. v
TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................... vi
LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................... ix
LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................. x
ABSTRACT ............................................................................................ xi
CHAPTER ONE ...................................................................................... 1
INTODUCTION ...................................................................................... 1
1. 1 Background ..................................................................................... 1
1.2 Statement of the problem ................................................................ 2
1.3 Objectives of the study .................................................................... 2
1.3.1 General objectives ........................................................................ 2
1.3.2 Specific objectives of the study ..................................................... 2
1.5 Scope of the study ........................................................................... 3
1.6 Significance of the study .................................................................. 4
CHAPTER TWO ..................................................................................... 5
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ..................................................... 5
Education policies and institutional process .......................................... 5
Poverty and academic performance of pupils ......................................... 6
School facilities and academic performance of pupils ............................. 7
Teacher quality and performance of pupils ............................................ 9
Indiscipline of pupils and performance ................................................ 10
Home environment and academic performance of pupils in national
examinations ....................................................................................... 11
Vl
CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................ 13
METHODOLOGY ................................................................................. 13
3.0 Introduction .................................................................................. 13
3.1 Research Design ............................................................................ 13
3.2 Research Environment .................................................................. 13
3.4 Instruments of Data Collection ...................................................... 13
3.5 Sample Size and Sampling Procedures ........................................... 14
3.6 Data Analysis ................................................................................ 14
3.7 Statistical Treatment of Data ......................................................... 14
3.7 Data Collection Procedures ............................................................ 14
CHAPTER FOUR .................................................................................. 16
FINDINGS AND INTERPRETATIONS .................................................... 16
4.0 Introduction .................................................................................. 16
4.1 Profile of the respondents .............................................................. 16
4.2 Reasons for poor performance in national examinations ................ 18
4.2.1 Poverty and performance of pupils in national examinations ....... 18
4.2.2 School facilities and performance of pupils in national
examinations ....................................................................................... 23
4.2.3 The quality of teachers and performance of pupils in national
examinations ....................................................................................... 27
4.2.4 Indiscipline and performance of pupils in national exams ........... 30
4.2.5 Home environment and performance of pupils in national exams.31
CHAPTER FIVE ................................................................................... 36
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 36
5.1 Summary of Findings and their Relevance ..................................... 36
5.2 Conclusions .................................................................................. 38
5.3 Recommendations ......................................................................... 38
5.4 Areas for further research .............................................................. 39
REFERENCES ..................................................................................... 40
ABSTRACT The purpose of the study is to assess the poor academic performance in national examinations by pupils in Nzeruni Zone, Mwingi district. The specific objectives of the study were; to determine the relationship between Poverty and performance of pupils in national examinations, to determine the relationship between School facilities and performance Of pupils in national examinations, to determine the relationship between the quality of teachers and performance of pupils m national examinations, to determine the relationship between Indiscipline and performance Of pupils in national examinations and to determine the relationship between Home environment and performance of pupils in national examinations. The methods of data collection were questionnaires and interviews. The study revealed that school facilities are important for pupils to perform well in examinations. The study revealed that unqualified teachers do not teach well and this leads to poor performance in national examinations. The study revealed that children who are indiscipline perform poorly in national examinations. Finally the study revealed that parents who encourage their children contribute positively to children's performance. School facilities should be provided in schools so that children understand what they are taught. More teachers should be trained to cater for the growing number of pupils due to free primary education. The school environment should be made conducive for the pupils for example a clean environment should be emphasized and security provided. Parents should be sensitized on the importance of participating in their children's education and school activities
