Influence of Understaffing of Teachers on Teaching and Learning in Public Primary Schools in Makueni Sub-County, Makueni County, Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the influence of understaffing on learning and teaching in public primary schools in Makueni Sub County in Kenya. A Cross-sectional survey design was used in this study. Stratified sampling and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the participants for the study. The study employed questionnaires, interview guides and document analysis to collect data. Data were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively in line with the objectives of the study. The study established that first,
there was understaffing of teachers in some of the public primary schools in Makueni Sub County. Secondly, it revealed that there was high pupil-teacher ratio in public primary schools in the Sub County which has a negative impact on teaching and learning, pupils’ performance and the quality of education given. The study recommends that there is need to remedy to the state of understaffing in public primary schools through deployment of adequate number of teachers and that staffing officers in the counties should ensure fair
distribution of teachers to all schools in all the regions.