The impact of student enrollment on teaching and learning resources in selected public universities in Kenya

Abstract

Student enrolment in public universities often, encounters frequent challenges that are associated with policy outcomes. This study was on the Impact of Student Enrollment on Teaching and Learning Resources in Six Selected Public Universities in Kenya. The objectives of the study were to: determine the impact of student enrolment on teaching resources in six selected public universities in Kenya, assess on the impact of student enrolment on learning resources in six selected public universities in Kenya, examine the impact of student enrolment on physical facilities used in six selected public universities in Kenya, establish the impact of student enrollment on the student and lecturers ratio in six selected public universities in Kenya, evaluate on the impact of student enrolment on the capacity and spacing of seats in lecture halls, libraries and laboratories in six selected public universities in Kenya. The study was guided by a general system theory. It adopted a mixed research design which was explanatory and descriptive with pragmatic paradigm. The study adopted probability and non-probability sampling. The targeted population in the study was 390 which consisted of 240 lecturers, six deans of schools of education, 48 examination officers and 24 heads of departments in the school of education of the six public universities in Kenya. Simple random, stratified random and purposive sampling procedures were used. Quantitative data was collected through open and closed ended questionnaire, while qualitative data was generated through interviews focused group and observation strategies. The study used descriptive and inferential statistics which included frequencies, percentages, factor analysis, variance and co-relational analysis were used to analyze collected data. The findings of the study revealed that student enrollment levels and instructional resources correlated negatively. The R-value was 0,463 which indicated that there was a relationship between student population, the quality of teaching, instructional facilities and the administration of examination in the six public universities in Kenya. However, the quality of education was affected due to inadequacy, inaccessibility and scarcity of existing teaching and learning resources. The p value was ≤ 0.01, the F value was 0.241 while the SD was 9. 0914. The study further revealed that even though some public universities had adequately implemented educational policies, improved laboratories, lecture halls, and library facilities, the quality of teaching resources was still compromised. The potential beneficiaries of this study are the deans of schools, heads of departments, examination officers, lecturers in the schools of education and policy planners in the Ministry of Education. The study recommended that public universities should recruit more lecturers, modify existing teaching and learning resources and should improve on the existing evaluation methods.