Teacher factors influencing Academic Performance of secondary school students in Physics: A study of secondary schools in Bureti Sub County, Kericho County-Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine teacher factors influencing academic performance of secondary school students in physics in Bureti Sub County, Kericho County. The choice of this topic was influenced by the fact that performance in physics in Kenya particularly secondary schools in Bureti Sub County has remained low over the last four years. The objectives of the research were: to assess the influence of teacher‘s commitment in physics syllabus coverage on academic performance among secondary schools students in physics; to determine the influence of teachers‘ preparedness on students‘ academic performance in physics; to assess the influence of team teaching on academic performance of secondary school students in physics and to identify challenges encountered by teachers of physics that influence academic performance of secondary school students in physics secondary schools in Bureti Sub County, Kericho County. The study employed descriptive survey design to collect data on teacher factors influencing academic performance of secondary school students in physics in secondary schools students in Bureti Sub County, Kericho County and was guided by Blooms theory of school learning. The study was carried out in 39 secondary schools sampled from the Sub County, out of which 35 were public secondary schools and 4 were private secondary schools. Stratified random sampling was used to come up with the study sample by selecting one physics teacher in a school having more than one physics teachers. But purposive sampling was used in schools which had only one physics teacher. Reliability of the instrument was done by piloting in two schools in another Sub County. Pearson‟s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient ( PPMCC) formula was used for the test-retest to compute a relation coefficient and it was found that r = 0.92. Data was collected using questionnaires and document analysis .Data analysis and interpretation was done using statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS) and data was presented using frequencies, charts and descriptive statistics. This study found out that teachers‘ commitment, teacher‘s preparedness, team teaching and challenges faced by teachers of physics were found to be influencing academic performance of secondary school students in physics in Bureti Sub County, Kericho County. The findings obtained were used to make recommendation to the educators, principals, teachers, and parents/guardians on Teacher factors influencing instruction in physics in secondary schools students. Schools are advised to improve teacher‘s commitment in syllabus coverage to allow time for revision. Teacher preparation like teacher qualification, experience, turnover, work load and preparation of professional documents should be looked into by the schools. Study recommends that Team teaching be encouraged in secondary schools and schools physics laboratories should be having required number of physics apparatus which are well maintained. The study recommends that motivation of teachers should be improved so as to boost academic performance of students in physics.