UTILIZATION OF CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT AND ITS EFFECTS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SUB COUNTY LEVEL SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN UASIN GISHU COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

School infrastructure is a key pillar for effective learning process in any educational institution. The purpose of this study was to utilization of classroom environment affect academic performance in Sub County level secondary schools in Uasin Gishu County. This study was guided by Production theory. The study was guided by pragmatism philosophy and adopts descriptive survey research design. The study area was carried out in Uasin Gishu County. The target population of the study was 18960 respondents. Stratified simple random and purposive sampling was employed to select the respondents. The sample size was 530 respondents comprising of 48 principals, 97 teachers, 384 students and a Quality Assurance and Standards Officer The data collection instruments were questionnaire, interview schedules and observation check list. A pilot study was carried out in five public schools in the neighboring Trans Nzoia County to check on the consistence of the instruments. The researcher yielded both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics that resulted in percentages and frequencies that were represented in tables, pie charts and bar graphs and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically. Therefore, from the research findings based on the multiple regression models, the coefficient of determination (R squared) of 0.441 showed that 44.1% of the variation in student performance was explained by the utilization of selected school infrastructure. The study found out that the classroom environment influenced academic performance. The study concluded that the more conducive the classroom environment the higher the academic performance. The research recommended that sub county level secondary schools management in Uasin Gishu County should develop infrastructural development initiatives to solve the inadequacy of these facilities and enhance their utilization in the schools. There should be consistent routine supervision of quality of facilities in schools done by the government to ensure that schools are operating with good facilities that would help the learners. KEY WORDS: School infrastructure utilization of classroom environment, academic performance