Factor influencing performance in chemistry among Secondary schools in Matinyani sub county, Kitui county, Kenya ,

The purpose of this study was to assess the factors influencing performance in chemistry among secondary schools in Matinyani Sub County, Kitui County, Kenya. The study was guided by the following objectives: To establish the extent to which school factors influence performance in Chemistry among public secondary schools; to establish influence of chemistry teachers on performance in Chemistry among public secondary schools and to establish the extent to which students’ factors influences performance in Chemistry among public secondary schools in Matinyani Sub County. Analyses of Chemistry Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education KCSE examination results over a period of recent six years reveal that secondary school students register dismal failure in the subject (Opara 2013). The mean achievement scores of students in Chemistry at the KSCE from 2005 were 2005 = 26.99%, 2006 = 24.78%, 2007 = 25.17%, 2008 = 22.50%, 2009 = 18.99% and 2010 = 24.71% (Opara 2013). Literature is reviewed based on school factors, teacher factors and students’ factors as the main factors that may contribute to the formation of the learning environment and hence influence skill acquisition during teaching/learning of Chemistry and hence influencing performance in the subject. A survey research design was adopted in conducting this study. The study target population was all the chemistry teachers, principals and form three students in 17 public secondary schools in Matinyani Sub County. Census sampling method was used to select 17 chemistry teachers and 17 principals. Simple random sampling was used to select 5 form three students from each school to get 85 students in the sample. A sample of 119 participants formed the sample of the study. A survey questionnaire was employed to generate data. Likert type of questions using a 5-point scale (1-5) was used. Discrete quantifiable data was collected and was analyzed statistically using descriptive statistics. The results were presented in frequency distribution tables, percentages and mean values. Explanations of the main findings were given below each table