EFFECTS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF TRAINED TEACHERS ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SELECTED PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN MANDERA NORTH SUB COUNTY; A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Background: This study aims to explore the effects of the availability of trained teachers on students’ academic performance in selected public schools in Mandera North Sub County, Mandera County. Methodology: The study will adopt a cross-sectional research design because it entails observing two study variables to define a corresponding statistical relationship between the variables. The study area will be public secondary schools in Mandera North Sub County; where the target population will be 9 schools with 2239 students, 104 teachers, and 9 principals. Yamane’s formula will be used to determine students’ sample size totaling 339, simple random sampling determine teachers’ sample size totaling 10, while purposive sampling will be used to identify 3 principals giving a total of 352 respondents. Questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis will be used to collect primary data. Results: Regarding the students enrolled in this study, 115 (38.3%) were females while 185 (61.7%) were males. All the teachers (100%) agreed that professional qualification can affect their output in class. There were all indications that the schools did not have enough trained teachers, and most schools had stayed for one year (11.1%), 2-3 years (33.4%), or more than 4 years (44.5%) without enough trained teachers. It was interesting that the principals agreed that qualified teachers are more effective in teaching, lack of trained teachers creates teaching overloads, teacher qualifications affect students’ academic output, and lack of trained teachers leads to delays in syllabus coverage Conclusion: There were only five to eight trained teachers in the schools surveyed. Out of the 9 teachers interviewed, only 5 attested to have received formal training in teaching. Recommendation: More trained teachers should be recruited to improve student’s performance in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education.