INFLUENCE OF CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTATION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN MERU COUNTY, KENYA
Abstract
Purpose of the Study: This study examined the influence of curriculum implementation on the performance of public secondary schools in Meru County in Kenya.
Statement of the Problem: Despite increased government investment in education and the implementation of school improvement strategies, the performance of public secondary schools in Kenya remains inconsistent. Challenges related to instructional delivery, syllabus coverage, learner assessment, and curriculum supervision continue to affect educational outcomes in Meru County.
Methodology: The study was anchored on Higgins’ 8-S Strategy Implementation Framework and adopted a mixed-methods approach using descriptive and correlational research designs. The target population comprised 395 principals of public secondary schools and 9 Sub-County Directors of Education in Meru County. A sample of 199 principals was selected through proportionate stratified random sampling, while all 9 Sub-County Directors of Education were included. Data were collected using questionnaires and interview schedules and analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and simple linear regression with SPSS Version 27.
Findings: A positive and statistically significant relationship was found between curriculum implementation and school performance (r = 0.465, p < 0.05). Regression analysis indicated that curriculum implementation significantly predicted school performance (β = 0.407, t = 6.398, p = 0.000). The model yielded an R² value of 0.216, implying that curriculum implementation accounted for 21.6% of the variation in school performance. Effective syllabus coverage, learner assessment, instructional supervision, benchmarking practices, and co-curricular participation were associated with improved institutional performance.
Conclusion: The study concludes that curriculum implementation is significantly associated with the performance of public secondary schools in Meru County.
Recommendations: The study recommends strengthening instructional supervision, learner assessment, syllabus coverage, benchmarking programmes, and curriculum monitoring mechanisms to enhance curriculum implementation and improve school performance outcomes in public secondary schools.
Keywords: Curriculum implementation, school performance, instructional delivery, public secondary schools, strategic implementation, Meru County
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