Teacher’s Professional Knowledge and Students’ Academic Performance: Evidence of TPAD Implementation in Secondary Schools in Kenya

Abstract

Teacher performance appraisal and development play a crucial part in enhancing staff performance, reward, motivation, and training. A thorough inspection of most public secondary schools in Transmara East Sub-County disclosed a decline in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education schools’ average performance from 2018 to 2022. It is not evident whether Teacher performance appraisal and development (TPAD) implementation has an influence on the performance of learners’ academic achievement. The investigation was steered by Goal Setting theory of motivation. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A target population of 277 respondents consisted of 1 Teacher Service Commission (TSC) Sub-County director, 34 principals, and 242 TSC teachers from 34 public secondary school teachers in Transmara East Sub-County. The project adopted a stratified random sampling technique on 164 respondents comprising 1 TSC sub-county director, 20 principals, and 143 teachers employed by TSC. Questionnaires were utilised in acquiring data from teachers while the interview schedule was given to the TSC Sub-County director and principals. The checklist was used to collect target and end-term mean scores. Data collected was examined using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative facts were evaluated by descriptive statistics, frequency, mean and standard deviation as well as a correlation for inferential statistics. The quantitative facts were illustrated using charts and tables. Qualitative data was analysed thematically, which was triangulated with quantitative data. Findings reveal that teachers in their professional knowledge, showed mastery of subject content, used appropriate teaching styles, developed required documentation and learning assessment, and utilised learning and teaching resources sufficiently. Hence, professional knowledge has a significant positive influence on the academic performance of students (P<0.05). The study concludes that professional knowledge has a significant positive influence on students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in Transmara East Sub-County, Kenya. The study recommended that the government should improve training, assessment, and e-resource for ICT integration in the learning and teaching of students.