THESIS TITLE: Influence of Resources on the Implementation of Computer Studies Curriculum in Public Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya.

STUDENT’S NAME: Wandili Austin Murambi

SUPERVISORS NAMES

1. Dr. Carolyne Nabwoba Simiyu
2. Dr. Rose Mutende

ABSTRACT:

Curriculum implementation is a process of putting agreed plans, decisions and ideas into action by the concerned educational parties. The government of Kenya introduced the implementation of computer studies curriculum in 1996. In the present dynamic world Computer studies becomes an essential subject for students in all learning levels. However, only a few schools registering a low number of candidates offer Computer studies at KCSE examinations and worst of all is the varied performance registered nationally and more so in Bungoma County. This study therefore purposed to evaluate the resources influencing Computer studies curriculum implementation in public secondary schools in Bungoma County, Kenya. This was achieved by determining the availability of qualified computer studies teachers, assessing the association between the physical resources and computer studies curriculum implementation and analyzing key stakeholders views on Computer Studies curriculum implementation in Bungoma County. The study employed survey research design and stratified the schools into categories of National, Extra county, County and sub county schools and further each category as boys, girls and mixed. Aside from national schools where census was used to select schools to participate, simple random sampling was employed to select the schools. Purposive sampling was used to select random respondents from selected school that offer computer studies at KCSE which represented a sample size of 35 percent. The study used questionnaires, interview, document analysis and observation to gather the required data. The study obtained information with regard to adequacy and utilization of computer studies teacher capacity, standards of physical facilities, and utilization of teaching learning resources influence on computer studies curriculum implementation in terms useful to educators in Bungoma County for establishing the influence of resources towards implementation of computer studies curriculum. The study established that there was a relationship between computer studies teacher capacity and utilization however there was no any significant statistical relationship for adequacy of physical resources and equipment with computer studies KCSE performance as well as students enrolment to take computer studies as a subject. It further established that beyond adequacy, the utilization of teaching learning resources has a relationship with the computer studies learners’ enrolment in the subject and consequently their performance in the subject. Stakeholders stated that there were few computer studies teachers and consequently affected the schools ability to offer the subject in the curriculum. They further indicated that computer studies disparity amongst public secondary schools was due to availability, adequacy and proper utilization of computer studies resources. The study therefore recommended that adequate computer studies teachers be availed to public secondary schools and be utilized for proper implementation of computer studies curriculum. Public secondary schools should make effective utilization of the available physical resources and equipment for better implementation of computer studies curriculum as an optional subject of study. This study will benefit principals in making informed decision with regard to whether to implement or not implement computer studies in their schools. Lastly, based on stakeholder’s views, the schools should come up with ways of utilizing the available funds to offer computer studies as one of their subjects when implementing its curriculum. The findings of this study will be of benefit to other education stakeholders such as policy makers, teachers and computer technicians among others.