140 Int. J. Education Economics and Development, Vol. 5, No. 2, 2014
Copyright © 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Instructional resources and girls’ academic
achievement in Science, Mathematics and
Technology subjects: experiences from Kenya
Lydia M. Musau
University of Nairobi,
P.O. Box 30197-00100 GPO,
Nairobi, Kenya
E-mail: lydiakilanga@yahoo.com
Joash A. Migosi*
Department of Education, Administration and Planning,
South Eastern Kenya University,
P.O. Box 170-90200 – Kitui, Kenya
E-mail: jmigosi@gmail.com
*Corresponding author
Abstract: There has been a disappointing academic achievement in Science,
Mathematics and Technology (SMT) subjects especially among girls in Kitui
County over the years. The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution
of instructional resources to girls’ academic achievement in SMT subjects.
Ex-post-facto survey research design was employed in the study. Six girls’
secondary schools in Kitui County, Kenya were randomly selected. The study
comprised six head teachers, 30 teachers of SMT subjects and 416 girls who sat
for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in the year 2009.
Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires, interview guides and
document analysis sheets. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed
to analyse the data. The study found that girls’ achievement in classes with
adequate SMT instructional resources was better than those with few or none.
The findings of the study indicated that majority of the SMT teachers who
taught the girls at form four level were men. The study further revealed that
teachers mainly relied on few text books which were provided by their schools
for classroom instruction. Recommendation is made for increased instructional
resources for better girls’ academic achievement in SMT subjects.
Keywords: instructional resources; girls; academic achievement; science;
mathematics; technology; form four level; Kitui County; Kenya.
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Musau, L.M. and
Migosi, J.A. (2014) ‘Instructional resources and girls’ academic achievement in
Science, Mathematics and Technology subjects: experiences from Kenya’,
Int. J. Education Economics and Development, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp.140–151.
Biographical notes: Lydia M. Musau holds a Bachelors degree in Education
from the University of Nairobi and an Executive Master of Education degree in
Leadership and Policy Education from Moi University, Kenya. She is currently
enrolled for a Doctorate degree in Education Administration and Management
in the University of Nairobi, Kenya. She has co-authored other articles in
refereed journals within the area of pedagogy, educational administration and
management.