Influence of selected personal factors on pupils’ progression in public primary schools in Trans-Nzoia West Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the extent to which selected personals factors contributed to pupils’ low progression in primary schools in Trans-Nzoia West Sub-County. The study adopted ex-post facto research design. The target population was 1815 teachers and 91 head teachers from 91 public primary schools. Data was collected from a sample of 313 teachers and 73 head teachers through self-administered questionnaires and data collection form respectively. Proportionate, stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the subjects. Construct validity of the instruments was confirmed through piloting of the study. The teachers’ questionnaires were piloted in 5 schools in Bungoma North Sub- County and their reliabilities established after testing using the internal consistency method and Cronbach Alpha coefficient of 0.92 was realized. The instruments were deemed reliable as their reliability coefficients were above 0.7 threshhold recommended for social sciences research. Data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. Data was described and summarized using frequencies and percentages while hypotheses were tested at the .05 level of significance and using simple regression analysis. The results reveal that Personal factors influence progression of pupils in public primary school. The results of the study may inform the Ministry of Education, Boards of Management, parents and teachers in Trans-Nzoia West Sub-County and the country at large on factors to be addressed to enhance pupils` progression in public primary schools in the sub-county.