Impact of Tuition on Students’ Performance in National Examinations: Views of Secondary School Teachers and Principals in Eldoret North, Kenya (Published)
In Kenya, the demand for good results and the ever-pressing need to complete the syllabus continues to drive schools to introduce holiday and private tuition. This is despite the government ban on tuition programmes. The aim of the study was to document the views of teachers and head teachers on the impact of holiday and private tuition on the performance of students in Eldoret Sub-County, Kenya. The study targeted 300 students, 60 teachers and 30 head teachers from a total of 30 secondary schools. Teachers and head teachers’ perceptions on holiday and private tuition were described, interpreted and analysed by use of descriptive statistics. The study used the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination results for 2011 as a basis for analysis of students’ performance. The results were obtained from District Education Office and candidates mean grades from KNEC website. Purposive sampling was used to select schools that offered holiday tuition and Form Four students who had undergone holiday or private tuitions. Data was collected using document analysis and a questionnaire. The data was then analysed using descriptive statistics. Based on the results, the head teachers and teachers expressed support for holiday and private tuition in and out of schools. It was recommended that the Teachers’ Service Commission should introduce stringent work performance contracts for teachers every term to complete the termly syllabus within the time frame scheduled. All head teachers in both public and private schools should be compelled to sign a memorandum of understanding with the TSC/Ministry of Education guaranteeing that school facilities under their jurisdiction will never be used for the purposes of holiday and private tuition during holidays
Keywords: Effect, Eldoret North Constituency, Head Teachers, Kenya, National Examinations, Performance, Teachers, Tuition Secondary School Students