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Evaluating Teaching Effectiveness in Determining Quality Educational Outcomes in Kenya.
No full textEvaluating Teaching EffectivenessThe yearnings for quality education is the driver to national socio-economic developments. This is
well articulated by various local, national and international frameworks including Kenya’s Vision
2030 and Sustainable Development Goals. Teachers are considered pivotal in quality education.
However, research studies document that teachers’ pedagogical practices reveal gaps in
achievement of quality education outcomes. This study analyzed the role of teaching effectiveness
on quality educational outcomes in Kenya. The study was guided by the Social Constructivism
Theory and through a comprehensive review of literature, the study identified gaps in teachers’
pedagogical practices that guided the present study. 400 teachers were selected for the study and
through purposive sampling method, 24 principals were sampled. Also, systematic random sampling
method was employed to yield a research sample of 80 teachers and 144 students. The principal
research instruments were questionnaires for the teachers and students while interview guides were
used to collect data from principals. Validity was enhanced by the piloting of instruments prior to
collecting the final data. To enhance credibility, an adjustment of the tools was done according to
the opinions obtained from respondents and peer reviews. Reliability of the instruments was
calculated using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient and found to be ρ =.77, hence
considered reliable. To test the internal consistency for reliability within questionnaire items,
Cronbach alpha based on the standardized items was used which yielded α =.759. Quantitative data
was analyzed using SPSS Version 25 for both descriptive and inferential statistics. Measures among
variables was described using standard deviations, SD, while chi-squared test, χ
2=12.496a was
arrived at to determine the statistical significance of the study hypotheses at 0.05 level (2-tailed).
The reporting of the quantitative data was in percentages, tables and charts. The study findings
indicated that teachers are pivotal in determining educational outcomes through their pedagogical
practices as corroborated by respective research objective findings. The study recommends that
teachers should undergo continual professional development to improve in curriculum delivery.
Also, the Government should enhance quality assurance and monitoring strategies in the schools to
ensure that the school curriculum is highly implemented to achieve the educational goals in Kenya
and beyond
INNOVATIVE CREDIT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AS A CATALYST FOR FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM SAVINGS AND CREDIT COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN NYERI CENTRAL SUB COUNTY, KENYA
No full textCredit management PracticesThe World Council of Credit Unions recently selected the Kenyan Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies’ sub sector as the fastest growing in the world. The growing popularity and landmark growth of the sub sector is driven by the ability of the entities to meet clients credit needs on better and easier terms than other players in the financial sector. Scholars are in consensus that credit management is the foundation for stability and growth of modern-day enterprises. The research therefore sought to establish the influence of innovative credit management practices on the financial performance of the Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies. Specifically, the study aimed at establishing the effect of collection policy, credit risk controls, delinquency management and credit appraisals on performance of Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies in Nyeri Central Sub County of Kenya. The study was particularly interested with the financial aspects of firm performance and specifically exploited profitability ratio aspects measured through Return on Investment. The study also considered Credit Risk Exposure measures namely Portfolio at Risk and Write off Ratio The study was anchored on the Information Asymmetry Theory, Agency theory as well as the transaction Cost Theory as the key guiding theoretical models. The study adopted a census study of all the 15 active Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies in Nyeri Central Sub County as gathered from the Directorate of Co-operative Development of Nyeri County Government. The research targeted Chief Executive Officers and Credit Managers of all the entities together with the executive board which comprises of 4 members. This translated to a total of 90 respondents. The study used both primary and secondary data pieces. Questionnaires were the choice tool for collecting primary data. The questionnaire was dropped in person and then picked at a later date. The questionnaire was tested for validity and reliability using a pilot study, seeking expert opinion and Cronbach’s Alpha Reliability Analysis. Secondary data was gathered from the financial reports of the entities. Financial performance was considered for 5 financial years 2012-2016 for better understanding of performance over time. Secondary resources from the SACCO societies Regulatory Authority publications and reports were also useful. The study used the Statistical Package for Social Scientists to generate both descriptive and inferential statistics. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explain the magnitude of effect of each of the variables under study on performance. Going by the results of the analysis, as explained by R Square which is the Coefficient of Determination, 81.50 % of the variation in the Financial Performance (the dependent variable) was explained by variability in the independent variables. From the results all the independent variables coefficients were found to be statistically significantly different from 0 (zero). As such, it was concluded that Collections Policy, Credit Risk Control, Credit Appraisal and Delinquency Management were all statistically significant predictors of financial performance. Pearson Correlation analysis results indicated a statistically significant positive relationship between all the independent variables; Collections Policy, Credit Risk Control, Credit Appraisal and Delinquency Management and financial performance
EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE ON SOIL PROPERTIES IN LAIKIPIA COUNTY, KENYA
Full text linkA RESEARCH THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONFERMENT OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN SOIL SCIENCE OF KARATINA UNIVERSITYConservation agriculture (CA), defined by three principles of; minimum soil disturbance, use of cover crop and crop rotation/diversification was introduced in Laikipia as alternative to conventional farming (CF) systems, to improve soil properties and resilience to climate change and soil degradation. The study investigated practice of CA by farmers and carried out in-situ and laboratory analysis of soil moisture, bulk density, texture, soil nitrogen, phosphorus, exchangeable cations and microbial diversity. The study area was purposively selected to include areas where CA had historically been practised. A population of 2,000 farmers registered as practising CA were interviewed. For the collection of soil samples, 332 farmers were sampled based on; (i) farmers who received training on CA curriculum (ii) farmers who were actively practising all the three principles of CA (minimum soil disturbance, crop rotation and soil cover); and (iii) farmers who were practising CA alongside conventional farming. Thirty (30) farmers were sampled according population in each through proportionate stratified random sampling. 270 composite soil samples were collected from 3x3 m plots at a depth of 0-20 cm (rooting zone) of annual crops, from 30 farms, during 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons. Soil sampling for analysis soil bulk density, moisture) while soil sampling for the analysis of chemical and microbial properties was done using core ring sampler of 5cm diameter and 10cm height and metallic soil augers of 5cm diameter, respectively. The analysis of soil physical and chemical properties were done according to protocols in soil and plant analysis and national agricultural research laboratories (NARL) manuals. The analysis of microbial diversity was done according to functional gene analysis pipeline (www.mrdnalab.com). Findings describing significance differences in soil properties between farming systems were done using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at (p ≤ 0.05), followed by post-hoc family-wise comparisons of means between experimental plots. Tukey’s honest significance difference (HSD) tested mean separation when analysis showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). The DNA from environmental samples was extracted using PureLinkTM Microbiome DNA Purification Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Amplicon generation and sequencing was done using the next generation (NGS) Illumina’s MiSeq technology platform (bTEFAP)®. All statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS ver 22, R-program and MS-Excel for Windows. Findings of CA farming practices indicated that 67% of farmers employed all the three principles of conservation agriculture (crop cover/residue + crop rotation + no tillage). Majority (62%) of farmers were largely subsistence farmers, growing mainly; maize (Zea mays L.) and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Silt clay loam (SCL) was the most abundant at 60%, while 67.47% of farmers employed all the 3 principles of CA. Farms adopting CA had the highest soil bulk density at 1.78 ±0.04 g/cm3. Soil moisture levels in farms declined significantly from ‘25” to “75” days after seeding (DAS) under different farming systems. Soil carbon was significantly higher in farms adopting CA, which is postulated to be due to the high use of organic biomass on soil. The study found important rhizospheric bacteria and fungi that affects soil properties. The findings can be used for developing a holistic soil improvement strategy for improving soil properties and enhancing farmer resilience to climate change effects in rain-fed farming systems in Laikipia
IDENTIFICATION OF MAIZE LEAF DISEASES USING SUPPORT VECTOR MACHINE AND CONVOLUTIONAL NEURAL NETWORKS ALEXNET AND RESNET50
Full text linkA Research Thesis Submitted to the School of Pure and Applied Sciences in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Conferment of the Degree of Masters of Science in Information Technology, Karatina Universit
Karatina University Ag. Vice Chancellor Prof. Linus Gitonga Receiving a Second Trophy Won at the 6th Edition of KUSA Central Inter-University Staff Games on 17 June 2023 Held at the University of Embu, Kenya
No full textImage of Karatina University Ag. Vice Chancellor receiving a second trophy won during inter-university staff Games Held at the University of Emb
Faculty and students’ perspectives of online learning during COVID-19 crisis: Constraints and opportunities for Kenyan universities.
No full textFaculty and students’ perspectives of online learning during COVID-19 crisis in KenyaAt the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, all higher education institutions had to abruptly migrate from face-to-face mode of learning to virtual learning. Students and faculty members were thrown into the process of acquainting themselves with a fully virtual system. How prepared were institutions, faculty members, and students for the abrupt and massive transition to online learning? The study examined the faculty and students’ perspective of online learning during COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the study examined the perceptions of faculty and students on the preparedness of higher education institutions for online teaching and learning. The study also determined the perceptions of staff and students towards online education, constraints, and opportunities. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted at a public university in Kenya. A semi-structured interview was conducted on a total sample of 36 respondents; 24 students and 12 faculty members to capture unique, idiosyncratic and whole individual viewpoints. A conventional Content Analysis was done to determine words or concepts within the transcripts. The findings showed that the study institution, faculty members, and students were unprepared for the immediate and massive shift to online teaching and learning and had challenges using virtual technologies for teaching and learning during the lockdown. These challenges ranged from insufficient or lack of internet bandwidth, training, increased teaching and learning workloads to limited time for interactions. Based on the findings, the study suggests significant implications for higher education institution leaders, policymakers, faculty, and students. The study contributes to the existing literature by analyzing the perceptions of faculty and students about the preparedness of institutions, faculty, and students on the abrupt shift to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic
INSTITUTIONAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE OF CHARTERED PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN KENYA
Full text linkA THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONFERMENT OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OPTION) IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT OF KARATINA UNIVERSITY.The performance of public universities is a global concern over the last few decades. In
Kenya, this has been demonstrated by challenges such as financial constraints evidenced
by inability to meet their debt obligations and statutory remittances; poor academic
quality marked by low global ranking; inadequate research funding and limited
community engagements. Universities have in the past intervened through Institutional
management practices with little improvement in performance. The specific objectives of
the study were to determine influence of transparency; adherence to management
guidelines; level of public participation and to establish the moderating influence of
sustainability strategies on the relationship between Institutional management practices
and performance of public universities in Kenya. The study was anchored on resource
based and social network theories. The study used a pragmatic philosophy and mixed
research method with a target population of 31 chartered public universities. This was a
census study and the respondents were 230 university top managers. Primary data was
collected using a structured questionnaire and an interview guide. Quantitative data was
analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data was analyzed
using content analysis. Findings revealed that Institutional management practices had a
statistical significant influence on performance of public universities in Kenya (adjusted
R 2 0.37, P 0.000) with level of transparency adjusted R 2 0.307, P 0.000; adherence to
management guidelines R 2 0.309, P 0.000 and level of public participation adjusted R 2
0.226, P 0.000. The study also established that sustainability strategies moderated the
relationship between Institutional management practices and performance of public
universities in Kenya. The regression analysis revealed that Institutional management
practices alone accounted for 52% of the variation in performance of public universities
(adjusted R 2 =0.52). Sustainability strategies accounted for 39% (adjusted R 2 =0.39). The
interaction term (Institutional management practices and sustainability strategies)
accounted for 72 % of the variation in performance of public universities. These results
were in agreement with the findings of qualitative data analysis. The study concluded that
implementation of sustainability strategies combined with adherence to good Institutional
management practices are essential strategies that public universities can adopt to
improve their performance. The study recommended that public universities should
implement sustainability strategies alongside good Institutional management practices so
as to remain competitive and relevant