TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration ..................................................... -·.--·-..... -... -.·············---··--·····-·-----······-···-· r .I Approval················································-··········································-······················ ..... 11 Dedication .. : ................................................................................................................. iii Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................... iv Table of contents ............................................................................................................ v Acronyms ..................................................................................................................... vii Abstract ...................................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER ONE .......................................................................................................... ! 1.0 IntToduction .............................................................................................................. l 1.1 Background to the study .......................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the problem ......................................................................................... 3 1.3.0 Objective of the study ........................................................................................... 4 1.3.1 General objective ................................................................................................. 4 1.3.2. Specific objectives .............................................................................................. 4 1.3.3 Research questions .......................................................................................... ···+4 I .4 Si£,'11ificance of the study .......................................................................................... 4 1.5 Scope of the study .................................................................................................... 5 CHAPTER TWO ......................................................................................................... 6 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ................................................................ 6 The context in which fpe was introduced ...................................................................... 6 Challenges facing free primary education programs ................................................... 1 J Conclusions .................................................................................................................. l2 CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................... 14 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ............................................................................. 14 3.0 Introductiou ........................................................................................................... -14 3.1 Research design .................................................................................................... 14 3.2 Population of the study .......................................................................................... 14 3.3 Study sample and selection technique ................................................................... 14 3.4 Research instruments ............................................................................................. /4 3.5 Research procedure ................................................................................................  3.6 Data analysis and interpretation ................................................................... , ......... IS 3.7 Limitations of the study ........................................................................................ 15 v CHAPTER FOUR ...............................................•...................................................... 16 DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSION ............................................................................................................. 16 4.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 16 4.1 Background information ........................................................................................ 16 4.1 . 1 Response rate ...................................................................................................... 1 6 4.1.2 Type ofresponse ................................................................................................. l6 4. I .3 Age of teachers ................................................................................................... 17 4.1.4 Distribution of staff by gender ............................................................................ 17 4. I .5 Experience of teachers ........................................................................................ 17 4.1.6 Category of pupil respondents .......................................................................... 18 4.1.7 Gender distribution of pupils .............................................................................. 19 4.1.8 Age ofpupils ....................................................................................................... l9 4.2.1 Teachers opinion on effectiveness of F.P.E ....................................................... 20 4.2.2 Response on whether pupils appreciate Free Primary Education ....................... 20 I 4.3 challenges facing FPE since its inception, ............................................................. 20 ,.," 4.3.2 Response on whether tuition fees are a hindrance to pupil's attendance in school. ...................................................................................................................................... 21 4.3.3 Showing response on whether free primary education is beneficial to pupils .... 21 4.3.4 Responses to whether pupils are satisfied with the quality of education under Free Primary Education ............................................................................................... 21 4.4 Strategies put in place by government ................................................................... 22 4.4.1 Response on whether the Ministry of Education is doing anything to rectify the situation on quality education ...................................................................................... 22 4.4.2 Response on what are the measures put in place by the government to ensure that FPE is sustainable ................................................................................................ 22 CHAPTER FIVE ....................................................................................................... 24 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .. 24 5.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................... f4 5.1 Summary of findings and Discussions ................................................................... 24 5.2 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 25 5.3 Recommendations .................................................................................................. 26 Appendix I Questionnaires: ........................................................................................ 29 Pupils' Questionnaire ................................................................................................... 2 9 VI FPE - Free Primary Education. EFA- Education For All ACRONYMS FPESP- Free Primary Education Support Programme NER- Net Enrolment Rate ASALS- Arid and Semi Arid Lands SIMBA- School Instruction Management Book Account GPA- General Purpose Account SMCs-School Management Committees SIMCs- School Instructional Materials Committees ECDE- Early Childhood Development Education TIVET- Technical Industrial Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training VII

ABSTRACT

Recent research statistics has shown that the ji-ee primary education introduced in the year 2003 had lead to a large influx of pupils into primmy schools. Kenyans cwmot ajford to complp.cent about it, thus their arise an immediate need tu conduct an investigation on the issue of academic peJformance 011 the influx ofpupils. The study adopted a Descriptive research design. This enhanced the researcher to obtain a better. understanding of the impact of Ji'ee primary education on acadcn1ic peJformance of pupils. The method chosen allowed a collection of comprehensive and intensive data· and provided an in-depth zmderstanding oftlze topic under studv. Information collected was analyzed and edited to create consistency and completeness. After collecting the questionnaires they were edited for completeness and consistency across the respondents and to locate omissions. Information obttdned .f/'om the research study was presented and analyzed u!ling bar charts, narratives, and statislical figures. This report provides suggestions for more effective practice in the field offi'ee primarr education and measures based on the lessons learned ji-om practical expericJJce ofllie programme. It is designed for policy makers, planners and stakeholders who have responsibilities in tlze education sector in !he coun/Jy.