Examining hindrances to Students Participation in Decision Making in Nakuru County, Kenya.

This study investigated the hindrances to student participation in decision making in secondary schools in Kenya. The study was prompted by the frequent student unrests in Kenya. The institutionalization of the Student Councils in secondary schools was aimed at reducing the incidences of unrests by offering the students opportunity to present their grievances to the school administration for action before resorting to violent acts. The study utilised a survey research design. There are 87 boarding secondary schools in Nakuru County. 15 secondary schools were selected using simple random sampling to form the study sample. A survey questionnaire was used in collecting data; it was distributed among 300 secondary school learners. Data analysis involved descriptive statistical technique. The findings revealed that though students' councils have been instituted in schools, there are hindrances towards their successes, such as lack of support from the adults in the school community and the students not being taken seriously. Other hindrances included: suggestions from the students taking too long to be implemented; students are not taken seriously by the school administration; students participation in decision making seen as rebellion and the view that students have insufficient knowledge to deal with certain issues such as finance.

A Competency-Based Curriculum for Kenyan Primary Schools: Learning From Theory.

The main focus of this paper is placed on how competent each student is in the subject and not how much knowledge they have acquired in the subject. A competency-based curriculum for Kenyan primary schools. Competency-based curriculum (CBC) is designed with a view to help learners acquire desired knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to enable them cope with life challenges. CBE adopts a learner-centered pedagogy, formative and authentic assessment approaches that emphasize the development of competencies and application of knowledge in real life context. This paper is based on library research and seeks to review literature concerning the CBC in order to come up with various lessons to help in the Kenyan education. A brief analysis of Kenyan adoption of CBC under the system of 2-6-3-3 unveiled in 2017 to replace the current 8-4-4 system which has served Kenya for the last 32 years has been done. The adoption of 2-6-3-3 has received attention because it provides an opportunity to reflect on the end of an Era in Kenyan education system where examination has been the center of the sector. The paper will focus on the potential and prospects of CBC for Kenya based on the experiences of CBC in other countries. Illustrations from some countries will be used to point out why CBC will be useful in the development of the Kenyan education.

Relationship between Provision of Students' Academic Advising Resources and Effective Performance of Instructional Roles by Teachers in Secondary Schools in Nandi East Sub-County, Kenya

This study sought to investigate the relationship between the provision of students' academic advising resources and effective performance of instructional roles by teachers' in secondary schools in Nandi East Sub County, Kenya. The study adopted a correlational research design. Test re-test method was used to test the reliability of the instruments. The study targeted secondary school teachers while the accessible population was 192 teachers teaching in the 30 secondary schools and 30 deputy principals in Nandi East Sub-County. The study used proportionate sampling to categorize respondents into female and male; Boarding and day schools. Proportional sampling was used to apportion teacher respondents from various schools. Simple random sampling method was adopted to sample the actual respondents. The Sample size was 127 teachers in the 30 sampled schools determined by using Krejcie and Morgan Table of Sample Size determination and the 30 deputy principals surveyed. The study reported that that there was a positive and significant relationship between the provision of academic advising resources and performance of instructional roles by teachers' The study concluded that teachers were ineffective in providing career guidance materials to students, regularly giving academic advice to students, and regularly providing students with recreational games, insufficient time was allocated to academic counselling sessions, and some teachers were not effective in regularly organizing school-wide academic advisory services. This study recommends that principals of secondary schools should ensure that academic counselling sessions are scheduled in the timetable to address the issue of insufficient time allocated to academic counselling.

The Relevance of University Music Curricula to the Requirements of Church Music Job Market in Kenya.

In the prevailing global church music job market, church worship ministers or music directors are on high demand as they play a crucial role in church liturgy and other church musical events. Globally, many universities offer programmes on music training and pastoral leadership. In Kenya, such training is predominantly in theological schools with few universities offering such programmes. Currently, there is a growing interest of church musicians in Kenya due to the need to spread the gospel beyond the church walls and to promote ecumenism. For example, churches participate in church crusades, church concerts, and inter-churches music festivals. This strengthens the need for church worship ministers with music and leadership training. Universities in Kenya are, therefore, obligated to offer church music programmes that will enable these worship ministers to fit in the current job market. The discourse on church music, though, is rare in Kenya hence limited literature on the same. The study had an objective of establishing the relevance of university music curricula to the requirements of church music job market in Kenya. Elliot's Praxial theory underpinned the study. The study found out that universities are not keen to include music programmes that are relevant to the music job market. The Simple Matching Coefficient (SMC) of university X and Y music curricula to the requirements of church music job market was 0.00. Both universities did not have a church music program hence missing all the requirements of the given job market. The study recommends that there is a need to develop church music programmes in universities in Kenya, and this can be done in collaboration with the Schools of Theology at the university.

The Relevance of University Music Curricula to the Requirements of Music Production Job Market in Kenya.

Music production is one of the job markets that has gained popularity around the world, including Kenya. Universities have come up with music production programmes in order to prepare bachelor of music learners for this viable music job market opportunity. However, it is the observation of many studies that universities are not preparing job-ready graduates. With the advance of the digital era that is seamlessly permeating every sector of the music job market, attention needs to be given to the music production programs in Kenya. This study purposed to establish the relevance of university music curricula to the requirements of music production job markets in Kenya. Elliot’s (2005) praxial theory underpinned the study. The results revealed that music production curriculum of university X did not meet most of the job market requirements while that of Y met most of the requirements. The Simple Matching Coefficient (SMC) of university X was 0.59 while that for university Y was 1.00. This finding revealed that the music production university music curricula could not be entirely termed as 'irrelevant', but it depended on individual universities. The recommendation was that university music schools should revise and restructure their music curricula to accurately reflect the music production job market in Kenya to compete favourably, locally and internationally.

The Relationship between Student Safety Practices and Retention in Public Secondary Schools in Kisii County, Kenya

The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between students’ safety practices and students’ retention in Public Secondary Schools in Kisii County, Kenya. The study was guided by Vroom's expectancy and McGregor's X and Y theories. A conceptual framework involving the variables under investigation was drawn at the end of the literature review. The research employed a survey research design in conducting the study. The study was conducted in Kisii County. The target population was 354 Public Secondary Schools with a population of 115,683 composed of Principals, Deputy Principals, Students and School Head Cooks. A sample of 35 Public Secondary Schools was selected for the study using a Multi-stage sampling technique. The study sample was 525 respondents comprised of 420 students, 35 Deputy Principals, 35 Principals and 35 Head Cooks. Questionnaires, document analysis and interview schedules were used in data collection. Experts in the area under study validated the instruments. A coefficient of 0.8 in both the students’ and Deputy Principals’ questionnaires was obtained. Descriptive and inferential statistics was used in analysing quantitative data, while qualitative data was analyzed thematically. The study findings advocated that there was a strong and positive correlation between student safety practices (r=.689) and student retention in public secondary schools in Kisii County, Kenya. Tables, pie charts, bar graphs and textual forms were used in the present the findings. This study was significant because it provides new knowledge on how principals can improve student management practices to improve student retention.

Relationship between Principals’ Democratic Leadership Style and Students’ Conformity to Rules in Public Secondary Schools in Nakuru County, Kenya.

This study sought to examine the relationship between principals' democratic leadership style and students' conformity to regulations in public secondary schools in Nakuru County, Kenya. The study was anchored on the Social Control theory by Hirschi (1969). The study adopted a correlational research design. The target population was 338 principals, 338 deputy principals, 3426 teachers and 116,374 students in 338 public secondary schools in Nakuru County, Kenya. 100 schools were selected using stratified random sampling. Purposive sampling was used to select 100 Principals, while proportionate and simple random sampling was used to select 346 teachers and 383 students. Ten per cent of the Deputy Principals were selected. Questionnaires were used to collect data form Principals, teachers, and students, while interviews were used to collect data from Deputy Principals. Test-retest reliability revealed a coefficient of 0.70, indicating that the instruments were reliable. The findings revealed a statistically significant between principals use of democratic leadership style and students’ conformity to school rules (r=0.334; p< 0.05. It was concluded that the democratic leadership style, when used by principals in public secondary schools in Nakuru County, Kenya, enhances students' conformity to school rules. The findings will help school principals to fully embrace democratic leadership style to enhance students’ conformity to school rules. The study also recommends that the administration develops a process for handling students’ non-conformity issues in a calm, consistent and supportive manner. The study also recommends, principals should involve all stakeholders, for instance, teachers, students and parents in developing school rules and policies that affect students.

Relationship between Economic Factors and Gender Disparity in Enrolment of Students in Public Mixed Day Secondary Schools in Kericho County, Kenya.

This study attempted to examine the relationship between economic factors and gender disparity in enrolment of students in mixed public day secondary schools in Kericho County, Kenya. Social Demand Theory guided the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The study targeted 124 public mixed day secondary schools. The target population consisted of 124 principals and 9,418 students. Sampling techniques applied included purposive and systematic random sampling techniques. A sample size of the principals was determined by applying Kerlinger (1986) 30% rule, whereas for the students Cochran formula was used. The sample size consisted of 38 principals and 384 students. Data for the study was collected by the use of questionnaires. The study revealed that there exists a statistically significant relationship between Economic Factors and Gender Disparity (r=0.768; p<0.05). From the findings, in connection with economic factors, it was established that child labour had the highest mean of 3.21 and therefore was the major factor related to gender disparity in enrollment. This was followed by parents' reluctance to pay fees due to the false notion of free education with a mean of 3.10. The study concluded that the government, through quality assurance and standards officers alongside local administration, should ensure that policies on child labour are well implemented. That child labour is not practised so that all school age going children irrespective of their gender attend school uninterrupted.

Relationship between Implementation of Safety Standards and Guidelines for Physical Infrastructure, and Student Safety in Public Mixed Boarding Secondary Schools in Nakuru County, Kenya

The study aimed at finding out the relationship between implementation of Safety Standards and Guidelines for Physical Infrastructure in public mixed boarding secondary schools in Nakuru County, Kenya. The study was guided by Invitational Theory by Purkey and Schmidt and Systems Theory by Von Bertalanffy. The target population was 16 principals, 18 deputy principals and 2130 Form 4 students drawn from all 16 public mixed boarding secondary schools in the county. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The sample size comprised 327 Form 4 students. A census approach was used. . The population of the study was clustered into 9 sub counties. Stratified sampling technique was used to categorize the population into three strata namely principals, deputy principals and Form 4 students. The principals and deputy principals were selected using purposive sampling technique, while the students were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data from students was collected by use of questionnaires, while that from principals and deputy principals was collected using interview schedules. The researcher also used observation checklist to determine the level of implementation of the selected Safety Standards Guidelines in the schools. Prior to use, the instruments were subjected to validity checks with the help of university supervisors and reliability tests guided by the 0.7 Cronbach’s Alpha Reliability Coefficient level. Data analysis was done using tools in the SPSS version 22. Analysis involved computation of descriptive statistics: frequencies and percentages, and inferential statistics: Pearson Correlation and Regression coefficients. The data was then presented in tables and textually.

Examining the Adequacy of Non-Projected Media Resources in the Teaching of Geography in Public Secondary Schools in Koibatek Sub County

This study sought to examine the adequacy of non-projected media resources in the teaching of Geography in public secondary schools in Koibatek Sub County. A sample of 70 Geography teachers, 35 head teachers and 314 students were sampled using purposive and stratified random sampling. Data collection was done by use of questionnaires, observation and content analysis. Data was analysed using descriptive statistical methods. The results were then presented in pie charts, graphs and tables. The study established that most schools had a limited supply of non-projected media resources. The study has recommended for an urgent review of curriculum and increased supervision to ensure that curriculum is fully implemented, and refresher courses be given to teachers on the use of these resources. Geography is one of subjects that can be studied as a physical or social science at high schools level. In secondary education it is currently an optional subject at upper secondary education. There have been concerns over declining performance in Geography at national examination, especially areas that test students’ knowledge of field work, map work and physical Geography. Coincidentally these are the areas where non-projected media resources are most used. Yet few studies done in Geography have not adequately examined the non-projected media resources despite their critical role in the teaching of Geography. One of the reasons that have been put forward by KNEC (2007) is that students perform poorly in Paper I because of inadequate use of non-projected media resources.