ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to assess the availability, procurement utilization and maintenance of Teaching/learning resources and their effects on teaching/ learning process in public primary schools in Kandara division. The study intended to establish the availability and adequacy of T-L resources in Kandara division, how this resource are procured and also to establish factors which influence the utilization of T- L resources in primary schools in the division. The study also intended to assess the maintenance of the teaching and learning resources in Kandara division and also get suggestions from the teachers how T-L resources maintenance may be improved. The study used production function theory to relate the utilization of instructional resources to the KCPE performance. The study adapted a descriptive survey design targeting 65 public primary schools, 65 head teachers, 5750 pupils and five TAC tutors in the division. From the targeted population, 23 primary schools, 23 head teachers and 46 teachers were sampled for the study. Five TAC tutors and 230 pupils were sampled to be interviewed in the study. Schools and pupils were selected through systematic random sampling. The head teachers of the selected schools were automatically selected to be interviewed. The class teachers of one of the class 6 streams and class teacher of one of the class 8 streams were purposively chosen for the study. TAC tutors of the 5 educational zones in the division were interviewed. However, out of 23 head teachers sampled only 20 of them responded. Out of 46 teachers sampled, 37 of them returned the questionnaires while nine didn’t. All pupils filled the questionnaires and returned. The research instruments used to collect data were; questionnaires, observation schedule, and interview schedule. The questionnaire were used to collect data from the head teachers, teachers and from the pupils. Interview schedule were used to collect data from the TAC tutors. The researcher also used observation schedule to verify the information collected through the other instruments. Descriptive and inferential analysis was done to explain level and tread of the instructional materials and the relationship to pupils performance in KCPE exam. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics; percentages and frequencies and results presented in summary tables and charts. The study established that in majority of public primary schools there is inadequacy of T-L resource. This affects the teaching/learning process negatively. The study also revealed that, procurement of T-L materials guidelines from the MoE are not followed to the latter. Teachers reported that that most of the procurement processes are carried out by the head teachers. This is contrary to the MoE guidelines regarding T-L materials procurement. According to the MoE guidelines, SIMSC is the mandated body to do T-L materials procurement in primary schools. The study also established that there are many challenges facing maintenance of T-L materials in primary schools. These includes: Theft, lack of proper storage facilities, delayed disbursement of T-L materials fund, inadequate funding from the Ministry and lack of corporation from the parents who refuses to replace the damaged and lost learning materials. The study also revealed some suggestions on improvement of T-L materials maintenance. Teachers suggested that disbursement of T-L materials should be done early enough to allow procurement to be done at the right time. Also, the T-L materials fund need to be increased and also they suggested that improvisation of TL materials should be improved to cut the cost of purchasing commercially made resources which can be made using locally available materials.