TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION ..................................................................................................................... i
APPROVAL ........................................................................................................................... ii
DEDICATION ....................................................................................................................... iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ..................................................................................................... iv
DEFINITION OF TERMS AND ACRONYMS ..................................................................... v
TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................... vi
LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................. ix
LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................. x
ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................................... xi
CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................... 1
1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ I
1.1 Background of the study .................................................................................................... I
1.2 Statement of the problen1 ................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Objective of the stvdy ........................................................................................................ 2
1.4 Research questions ............................................................................................................. 2
1.5 Significance of the study .................................................................................................... 3
1.6 Assumptions of the study ................................................................................................... 3
1.7 Scope of the study .............................................................................................................. 4
1.8.Conceptual frame work ...................................................................................................... 4
1.9 Organization of the rest of the study .................................................................................. 5
CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................... 6
LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................................................... 6
2.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 6
2.1. Factors affecting the academic performance of learners in Kiswahili .............................. 6
2.1.1. Attitudes towards Kiswahili .......................................................................................... 6
2.1.2 Student learning environment ......................................................................................... 7
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2.1.3. Student home background ............................................................................................. 9
2.1 .4. Governments' role as policy maker ............................................................................. 10
2.1.5. The role played by the media ....................................................................................... 12
CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................. 14
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................... 14
3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 14
3 .2 Research Design .............................................................................................................. 14
3.3 Areaofstudy .................................................................................................................... 14
3.4 Study Population .............................................................................................................. 14
3 .5 Sample and Sampling techniques ................................................................................... .15 . 3. 6 Validity and reliability instrument ................................................................................... 15
3 .8 Data collection procedure ................................................................................................ 15
3.9 Method of data analysis ................................................................................................... 16
3.10 Limitations of the study ................................................................................................. 16
CHAPTER FOUR ............................................................................................................... 17
PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS ......... 17
4.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 17
4.1 Demographic Characteristics of Respondents ................................................................. 17
4.2. Level of performance of learners in Kiswahili ............................................................... 19
4.3. Factors affecting the academic performance of learners in Kiswahili ............................ 20
4.3.1. Attitudes of students and performance in Kiswahili ................................................... .20
4.3.2. The learning environment and performance oflearners in Kiswahili ......................... 23
4.3.3. Students home background and perf01mance in Kiswahili ........................................ .26
4.3.4. Role of government as a policy maker ........................................................................ 28
4.3.5. The media and performance oflearners in Kiswahili .................................................. 29
CHAPTER FIVE ................................................................................................................. 31
SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND
CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................... 31
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5.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 31
5.1 Summary of findings ....................................................................................................... 31
5.2 Recommendations ............................................................................................................ 33
5.3 Conclusions ...................................................................................................................... 33
5.4 Areas for further research ................................................................................................ 34
REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................... 35 . APPENDIX I: TRANSMITAL LETTER ............................................................................. 37
APPENDIX II: QUESTIONNAIRE FOR STUDENTS ....................................................... 38
APPENDIX III: INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR THE TEACHERS ......................................... .40
APPENDIX IV: MAP OF THE RESEARCH AREA .......................................................... .41
ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to examine the factors affecting the academic performance of the student in Kiswahili language. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the level of Kiswahili performance in fonn 1, 2, 3 and 4 in schools of Winam division East District, to explore the common drugs abused by learners; and to determine the factors affecting performance in Kiswahili language in secondary schools of Winam division in Kisumu east . district in terms of; Students' learning environment, Students' home background, The government role as policy maker and The role played by the media. The methods used for data collection was questionnaires and interview guides to learners, and teachers of the schools involved in the study. In chapter four, the findings were presented and interpreted in relation to the study objectives and research questions. While linking to the existing literature, results included demographic characteristics, frequency and percentages. Based on the findings it was observed that students do not perform well in Kiswahili language due to students learning environment, students' backgrounds, government policy among so many other factors. In chapter five, development of solutions to the problem, summary of the findings and conclusions were attempted. The findings suggested recommendations that Government should develop and revise the Kenya National Programme of Actions for facilitating the teaching and learning of Kiswahili language in schools. The local community should help the children to learn Kiswahili by encouraging them to speak the language in their environments