ABSTRACT The study was concerned with the causal effect relationship between predictors of students’ achievements in English and Kiswahili languages in particular in Transmara East District Kenya. It was guided by 4 objectives, ; to find out the profile of the respondents, the predictors of performance in English and Kiswahili, level of performance in English and Swahili and the relationship between the predictors of performance selected and the actual performance in the two subjects The study used descriptive co relational survey research design with a sample of 230 respondents. The study found out that there is a strong relationship between predictors of performance and academic performance in Kiswahili and English languages, the study also found out that the level of academic performance in English and Kiswahili language in the district of study is moderate. The study has concluded that for students to maintain high achievement in the two languages, the predictors selected in this thesis need to be closely considered in a learning environment. The major recommendation is that a lot more research needs to be done on other predictors of students’ achievement such as management and instructional time, instructional monitoring and management of student ‘s behavior and instructional feedback and how they could be applied in learning to realize greater achievement.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION

DEDICATION II

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iii

LIST OF TABLES vii

ABSTRACT viii

CHAPTER ONE 1

INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background of the Study 1

1.1.1 Historical perspective 1

1.1.2 Theoretical framework 2

1.1.3 Conceptual Perspective 2

1.1.4 Contextual Perspective 3

1.2 Statement of the Problem 4

1.3 Purpose of the Study 4

1.4 Objectives of the Study 4

1.5 Research Questions 5

1.6 Hypothesis 5

1.7 Scope of the Study 5

1.7.1 Geographical 5

1.7.2 Content 5

1.7.3 Time 5

1.7.4 Theoretical 5

1.8 Significance of the Study 6

1.9 Operational Definitions of Key Terms 6

iv

CHAPTER TWO 7

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 7

2.0 Introduction 7

2.1 Conceptual framework 7

2.2 Theoretical framework 14

2.3 Related studies 14

CHAPTER THREE 25

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 25

3.0 Introduction 25

3.1 Research Design 25

3.3 Target population 25

3.4 Sample Size 25

3.5 Sampling Procedure 26

3.6 Research Instruments 27

3.7 Validity and Reliability 27

3.9 Data Gathering Procedures 28

3.10 Ethical Considerations 29

3.11 Limitations of the Study 29

CHAPTER FOUR 31

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA 31

4.0 Introduction 31

CHAPTER FIVE 40

DISCUSSIONS, CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS 40

5.0 Introduction 40

5.1 Discussions 40

5.2 Conclusions 46