Effects of SMASSE INSET on students’ attitude, teaching approaches and performance in biology in secondary schools in Bomet district

Abstract

Performance in Biology KCSE has remained consistently low over the years. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether SMASSE INSET has effects on students’ attitude, teaching approaches and performance in Biology. The theoretical Framework was based on Lewin theory of planned change (1947) which focuses on unfreezing, moving and refreezing stages of implementing change successfully. The study was conducted in Bomet district. The respondents were selected from the form three students. A sample of 360 students, 24 science HOD, 24 Biology SMASSE teachers and 24 public secondary schools were selected using both stratified and simple random sampling. The study adopted descriptive survey design. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. For descriptive statistics, frequency tables, percentages and means of respondents’ scores were used while chi- square and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed to establish relationships and test the hypotheses. The study established that both students’ attitude and teaching approaches have significantly improved as a result of SMASSE INSET. The study also found out that performance in Biology KCSE has improved in Bomet district. The study revealed that performance in Biology has been below average (50%) for the last six years in Bomet district. To sustain SMASSE project, school administrators should regularly supervise teachers on the implementation of ASEI- PDSI approach. Teacher training programme should be revised to meet the emerging teaching approaches.