TEACHER MOTIVATION: CRITICAL INFLUENCE OF STUDENTS’ CHOICE OF SCIENCE SUBJECTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN MURANG’A COUNTY, KENYA

Education(Educational Management, Policy and Curriculum Studies. School of Education)

Abstract: The teacher factor is critical in influencing students to choose the Science disciplines. Despite teachers constantly encouraging the students to choose Science disciplines, students choosing these subjects are few in secondary schools. The study examined how teacher’s factors influence students in choice of Science subjects in Murang’a County, Kenya. It was guided by objective; to determine the: influence of teacher motivation on students’ choice of Science subjects. The study was premised on reinforcement theory of motivation. Descriptive research design was used for the study. The target population was 3400 comprising of 34 Science Head of Departments, 136 Science teachers and 3230 students in Murang’a County. Simple random sampling was used to choose 27 schools as a unit of sampling. From the selected schools, random sampling was employed to draw 65 teachers and 119 students. One HOD was selected through purposive sampling in each of the 27 selected schools. This yielded to a sample size of 211 respondents in the study. Questionnaires for students and science teachers, and interview guide for Science HODs were used as instruments to collect data. Piloting was conducted to determine the comprehensiveness of the instruments. Validity of the instruments was determined through expert judgment. Reliability of instruments was done using split-half technique. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such frequency and percentage with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The data was then presented in bar graphs, pie chart and tables. Qualitative data was put into similar themes and presented through narration and verbatim quotations. The research revealed that teacher learner’s interactions encouraged students to pursue science subjects. Positive reinforcement of learner’s attitudes hence, they choose the science subjects this was supported by 64.3% of the teachers. Test evaluation feedback was found to influence learner’s choice of science subjects this was supported by 66.4% of the students. Test results helped the students to know their strengths and weaknesses which greatly influenced student’s choice of science subject. Keywords: Teacher Motivation and Students’ Choice of Science Subjects

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