Interventions to Enhance Effective Use of Innovative Instructional Methods in Public Health Programmes Implementation in Kenya (Published)
Innovative instructional methods comprise a combination of approaches to teaching and learning that embrace modern technologies and are adaptable to different contexts. Since 1998, the College of Health Sciences of Moi University has embraced these innovative instructional methods to respond to 21st century challenges and trends in health professions’ training and education. Nevertheless, to date, students and lecturers’ experiences on the effectiveness of these methods have not been investigated. Therefore, the study sought the views of students and lecturers on the possible interventions in implementation of innovative instructional methods in Public Health Programme of Moi University. Mixed methods approach was used in this study involving the use of both quantitative and qualitative strategies. This was aimed at providing a comprehensive analysis of the research problem. The quantitative strategy (cross-sectional survey research) was used to gather numeric descriptions of level of knowledge of innovative instructional methods among a sample of lecturers. The qualitative strategy (phenomenological research) was used to identify students and lecturers’ experiences about determinants of use of innovative instructional methods. Pre-tested structured and unstructured sets of questionnaire were administered to students and lecturers of the school of Public Health. Structured interview was conducted among a sample of members of the management team including the Dean School of Public Health and Heads of Various Departments. An observational checklist was used to assess the adequacy of infrastructure and availability of instructional materials. From the study results, all the students and lecturers believe that there are interventions that need to be put in place to improve the use of innovative instructional methods in the implementation of the Public Health Programmes. Therefore, various interventions need to be put in place as suggested by the students and lecturers. These include training workshops to enhance capacity building for the staff and students and a closer follow-up on the implementation of innovative instructional methods. The main reason as to why the interventions were necessary was to help address shortcomings faced in using innovative instructional methods. From the study, it was emphasized that the interventions should be implemented as part of university policy on teaching and learning. It was thus recommended that the government, through the Ministry of Education, should supply schools with adequate resource materials to enable teachers and learners to play their roles satisfactorily in the curriculum implementation process. The study of interventions needed to enhance implementation, specially from the perspectives of the students and lecturers, was essential to understand the true picture of what needs to be done to improve the health education programme outcomes.
Keywords: Implementation, Kenya, Use, innovative instructional methods, interventions, public health programmes
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
Effect of Academic-Related Stress on Student Indiscipline in Secondary Schools In Eldoret East Sub-County, Kenya (Published)
Many factors contribute to student indiscipline in schools. Some of these factors emanate from the school environment. In light of this fact, the study was designed to establish the key school environment contributors and solutions to rowdiness among secondary school students in Eldoret East Sub-County. Based on the study, this paper discusses the findings on the effect of academic stress on indiscipline practices among secondary schools students in Eldoret East Sub-County. The study was led by Social Control Theory. Ex-post facto research design was used in the study. The target populace of the research included 3480 form three students and 54 deputy principals in public secondary schools in Eldoret East Sub County. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were adopted to pick a sample of 346 students to take part in the study. Census approach method was considered in which all the 54 deputy principals took part in the study. Questionnaires and interview schedule were used as data collection instruments. Data collected was analysed in both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics was evaluated in form of frequencies, percentages, average and standard variation. Analysis of Variance was used to examine the hypotheses. The study also established that academic stress (F [47, 273] = 2.001, p = .000) had an effect on indiscipline’s cases among secondary school students. The study concluded that academic stress had an effect on indiscipline cases among secondary school students. The study, therefore, recommended that the schools should reduce academic stress by providing adequate time for relaxation to help reduce cases of indiscipline cases in secondary schools in Eldoret East Sub-County.
Keywords: Academic Stress, Effect, Eldoret East, Indiscipline, Kenya, Secondary Schools, Students
Effect of Instructional Strategies on the Teaching and Acquisition of Listening Skills in Kiswahili Language (Published)
The research investigated the influence of the instructional process on the teaching and acquisition of listening skills in Kiswahili language. Informed by the study, this paper explores how the instructional strategies used influence the teaching and acquisition of listening skills in Kiswahili language in Kenyan secondary schools. The study used a sample of 13 secondary schools purposively selected from a total of 41 secondary schools in Wareng’ District, Kenya. Thirteen (13) teachers of Kiswahili and 130 Form Two learners of Kiswahili formed the respondents. The research was a descriptive survey since it set out to discover, describe and interpret existing conditions focusing on secondary school teachers of Kiswahili and Form Two learners. To collect data an interview schedule and an observation schedule were used. The 13 teachers were interviewed, the 130 learners participated in a Focus Group Discussion while 13 Kiswahili lessons were observed and tape-recorded. Analysed data was presented using frequency tables, percentages, graphs and charts. The study found that poor teaching strategies used in the teaching of listening in Kiswahili language is one of the main causes of the poor levels of language acquisition. In view of the findings, this study recommends that teachers of Kiswahili should build into their classrooms listening activities that have as much of the characteristics of real life listening as possible. One of the research implication of this study is that a study should be conducted in teacher training institutions to determine the effectiveness of teacher education programs in preparing teachers of Kiswahili in the teaching of listening skills.
Keywords: Acquisition Listening Skills, Effect, Instructional Strategies, Kenya, Kiswahili language, Secondary Schools, Teaching
Assessment of Teacher Competence in Pedagogical Knowledge in the Implementation of Secondary School Curriculum in North Rift Region, Kenya (Published)
The purpose of this study was to investigate teachers’ competence in pedagogical knowledge in teaching in secondary schools in the north rift region of Kenya. The study used descriptive survey design and a mixed methods research. Simple random sampling and stratified sampling was used to select the sample. Data instruments were structured and unstructured questionnaires, observation schedule and semi-structured interviews. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings of the study revealed that a majority of teachers did not use learner centred methods for example demonstration, enquiry and discussion. It was concluded that a significant number of teachers were not competent in pedagogical knowledge for the implementation of the secondary school curriculum. The study recommended revision of teacher education curriculum and the recruitment of more teachers to relieve on workload to enable them prepare effectively for the implementation of the secondary school curriculum
Keywords: Curriculum, Education, Kenya, Pedagogy, Teacher Competence