Paper QR Code

QR code for RQL-PAPER-2026-000068

Scan to open this RQL paper page.

Open QR Image
Claim / Link to This Paper Request RQL Service

School-Based Factors and Their Influence on Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools: Evidence from Lari Sub County, Kiambu County, Kenya

Sharon Nyawira; Mary Otieno; Wilson Mutuma

Greener Journal of Educational Research | Greener Journals | 2026

Paper ID: RQL-PAPER-2026-000068 | DOI: 10.15580/gjer.2026.1.032326040 | Views: 10

Published Paper Record

Paper Information

Publication Date: 2026-04-09 | Volume: 16 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 38-52

Type: Journal article | Discipline: Education | Subject Area: - | Language: English

DOI: 10.15580/gjer.2026.1.032326040

Abstract

Education is a cornerstone of national development, driving progress across economic, social, and political domains. In alignment with Kenya’s Vision 2030, the government has prioritized high-quality education to equip citizens with skills for personal and national advancement. However, public secondary schools in Lari Sub County have faced persistent challenges, including low academic achievement and a consistent decline in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) performance since 2017. While subsidized education has expanded access, improvements in outcomes remain elusive. This study examined the influence of four key school-based factors—teacher quality, learning resource utilization, school infrastructure, and school administration policies—on students’ academic performance. It also investigated the intervening role of the school ecosystem, which encompasses leadership style, school culture, Ministry of Education (MOE) policies, and students’ attitudes. Guided by the school effectiveness theory, a descriptive research design was employed, with data collected from 376 students, 63 teachers, and 22 Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) members across 44 public secondary schools. Data were gathered via questionnaires and interviews, analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics in the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), and qualitative responses were thematically reviewed. Results indicated that all four school-based factors significantly shape academic performance, with school administration and policies demonstrating the highest predictive effect. Additionally, the school ecosystem was found to mediate the relationship between these factors and performance. The study concludes that academic achievement in Lari Sub County’s public secondary schools depends on synergies between teacher quality, resources, infrastructure, and administration, strengthened by a supportive school ecosystem. Recommendations include enhancing teacher capacity through professional development, promoting participatory leadership, and ensuring equitable resource distribution. Future research should explore how parental socioeconomic status and community engagement moderate these relationships across different Kenyan counties.

Files and Links

Publisher / DOI Page

Enhanced Outputs and RQL Services

Research Media

No video or video abstract has been added for this paper yet.

No MP3/audio version has been added for this paper yet.

AI Review / Language Services

No public AI review, language audit, polish, or translation output has been attached to this paper page yet.

PQS / PPR Status

Paper Quality Score: Pending

PQS means Paper Quality Score. It may appear as AI Preliminary, Human Reviewed, or Certified depending on the evidence used. Learn more

PPR is the post-publication review workflow. PQS is the paper-level score outcome. PQS is not automatically calculated from imported metadata.

PPR Listing: Not Listed

PPR Comments: 0 completed / 2 required for Human Reviewed PQS.

Pending. PQS is not automatically calculated from import metadata.

Share Paper

X / Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Email

How to Cite

Sharon Nyawira; Mary Otieno; Wilson Mutuma (2026). School-Based Factors and Their Influence on Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools: Evidence from Lari Sub County, Kiambu County, Kenya. Greener Journal of Educational Research. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15580/gjer.2026.1.032326040
Back to Publisher Papers Journal Profile