Thesis Title: COVID-19 and Education System in Secondary Schools in Kakamega County, Kenya

Student’s Name: Violet Namenge Juma

Supervisors Names:

1. Jane Barasa
2. Duncan Wasike

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health organization (WHO) on 11^th March 2020. Therefore, being declared a global emergency, had undergone various mutations, therefore its effect on education was far reaching. The purpose of the study was to establish the COVID-19 effects on Education system in secondary schools in Kakamega County. The objectives of this study were: to establish COVID-19 effects  on curriculum delivery in secondary schools in Kakamega county, to examine COVID-19 effects on learner progress in secondary schools in Kakamega County, to determine COVID-19 effects on students’ fee payment in secondary schools in Kakamega County and to analyse COVID-19 effects on students’ discipline in secondary schools in Kakamega County. This study was guided by the theory of planned behaviour postulated by Ajzen. The study employed a descriptive survey research design whereby mixed research method was utilized to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. The study targeted public secondary schools in Kakamega County, Kenya, whereby one hundred and ninety-five (195) school principals and one thousand five hundred and ninety (1590) teachers were the targeted population. The study applied stratified sampling in obtaining the 59 secondary schools thus, 59 principals and 159 teachers. The study employed stratified random sampling to put schools in strata that is 15 boy public secondary schools, 15 girls’ public secondary schools and 29 mixed public secondary schools totalling up to 59 public secondary schools. Purposive sampling technique was used to select school principals since they belonged to public secondary schools in the strata, which provided the required information for the objectives of the study.  Data was collected using questionnaire for teachers. Interview schedule was also used to collect data from the school principals. Research instruments were availed to supervisors who ascertained the relevance of the items hence validity of the instruments. Reliability of the instruments was found to be 0.79 which was sufficient for the instruments in the actual study Data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was coded and analyzed thematically. Quantitative analysis involved use of frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviation, Spearman correlation analysis and regression analysis. The collected data was presented using pie-charts, frequency tables and mean tables. The study findings revealed that there exists a correlation between effects of COVID 19 and curriculum delivery in secondary schools. Implying that COVID 19 correlated with curriculum delivery in secondary schools. Curriculum delivery in secondary schools was likely affected by COVID 19 pandemic. The results from a correlation matrix indicates that there exists a correlation between effects of COVID 19 and learner progress in secondary schools in Kakamega County.  Suggesting that COVID 19 correlated with learner progress in secondary schools. Therefore, learner progress in secondary schools was likely affected by COVID 19 pandemic. The study found out that fee payment was excellent before COVID-19. The study findings established that indiscipline cases in secondary schools increased during the COVID-19 period in Kakamega County. The study concluded that COVID-19 had adverse effects on curriculum delivery, learner progress, fee payment and students’ discipline. The study recommends that Ministry of Education in order to counter COVID-19 effects in provision of education, there should be massive production of the free learning gadgets as well as provision of internet services even in the marginalized areas to ensure curriculum delivery during COVID-19 pandemic, need to build capacity to provide blended models of education in schools to enhance learner progress, need to encourage students to remain in school, incentives  such as scholarships may need to be implemented and need to strengthen guiding and counselling services in schools to enhance student discipline.