Impact of Unit Cost on Academic Performance of Public Secondary Education in Kenya: A Case Study of Siaya District from 1997 to 2007

Abstract

The unit cost of secondary education has continued to increase steadily and especially the direct and indirect cost while outcomes are repeatedly unsatisfactory. The consequence of this would be that students in Siaya district lose hope and parents who have clearest interest in a high level of their children’s performance become disoriented with secondary schooling. The study focused on relationship between unit cost and academic performance at secondary level. The descriptive  and causal comparative designs were used in this study. The study sample comprised 85 head teachers’, 765 teachers’, 3349 students and one DEO. Questionnaires’ and interview guides were used. Pearson’s correlation between unit cost in day secondary schools and performance index using raw scores reveal a coefficient of relationship of 0.372 while the constant variation shows a correlation of 0.372. In boarding secondary schools, Pearson’s correlation between unit cost and performance index using raw score and constant variation shows a correlation of 0.412.  The correlation in most cases is low with an implication of very low relationship between unit cost and performance index. The implication of such a relationship is that a rise in unit cost does not necessary mean an increase in performance index and putting more resources as a mean of improving performance should be treated with caution.

Key Terms:Unit Cost, Academic Performance Index, Impact