Resource Preparedness for the Implementation of Competency-Based Education in Public Junior Secondary Schools in Makueni County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the status of resource preparedness for the implementation of Competence-Based Education (CBE) in public Secondary schools in Makueni County, Kenya. The study examined the teacher preparedness, resources availability and physical infrastructure for the implementation of CBE in Makueni County, Kenya. The study adopted the descriptive survey design. The study targeted a population of 210 public junior secondary schools comprising 600 junior school teachers and 210 heads of institutions and 25 curriculum Support officers (CSOs). Simple random sampling was used to sample 21 public secondary schools. Two teachers were randomly selected from each school. All the heads of institutions and curriculum support officers were purposively selected representing 70 percent and 100 percent respectively. The researcher administered questionnaires to the respondents to collect data. The data was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The analyzed data was presented using pie charts. From the study finding, it was found that 92 percent of the head teachers indicated that junior school teachers are not adequately prepared to implement the competence based education while 8 percent of the head teachers indicated that junior school teachers are adequately prepared to teaching CBE in junior schools. The study findings also indicates that 98.23 of the junior schools teachers revealed that junior schools domiciled in primary schools are do not have adequate resources. . 96 percent of the CSOs indicated that junior schools do not have enough teachers to teach all the learning areas. They also indicated that the junior schools do not have adequate resources to effectively implement the CBE. 4 Percent of the CSOs indicated that few schools had enough resources and enough junior school teachers. To address this issues this study recommends that junior schools should source for the necessary resources like smart phones, computers, laptops, swimming pools, music and art studio, sports materials, chairs and tables, internet connectivity so as to help teacher implement the CBE effectively. The ministry of education and TSC should enhance teacher training through workshops, seminars retooling and CEMASE so as to equip the teachers with the necessary skills and competences required in teaching of CBE. The ministry of education should also train teachers to handle learning areas lacking teachers like creative art, pre-technical, and music. The study also recommends for similar studies to be conducted in other regions in Kenya so as to generalize the findings of the state of teaching and learning resources in junior schools and the teachers preparedness in implementing the competence based education.