Assessment of Secondary Schools Teachers Participation in Co-Curricular Activities in Kirinyaga Central Sub County, Kenya
Mr. Mwaura Nelson, Prof. Zachariah K. Mbugua, Dr. Josephat Kagema

Abstract
The fundamental aim of education is to produce holistic development in a child which encompasses intellectual, physical, social and moral development. However, evidence from school schedules indicate that schools do not put emphasis on the co-curricular activities as the lessons are taken over by examinable subjects. The purpose of this study was to examine factors influencing secondary schools teachers’ participation in co-curricular activities in Kirinyaga Central Sub County, Kenya. The study was guided by the following objectives; to establish teachers’ perception of co-curricular activities in secondary schools, identify the forms of teachers’ involvement in cocurricular activities, establish the various types of co-curricular activities in secondary schools and examines the challenges teachers face as they engage in co-curricular activities in secondary schools. The study was guided by the holistic approaches to the curriculum development as postulated by Miller (2007).The study employed descriptive survey research design. The study population consisted of 36 principals and 624 teachers from the 36 secondary schools in Kirinyaga Central Sub County. Simple random sampling was used to select a sample size of 7 principals and 125 teachers. The instruments used in data collection were questionnaires and interview guides. A pilot study of ten principals and ten teachers was carried out to test the instruments for reliability. Data was collected and analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, means and standard deviation and presented in form of frequency tables and charts. The study found out that majority (60.3%) of the teachers did not take part in co-curriculum activities. The study established that most of the schools in the region had sports, drama, music and science related co-curriculum activities. The study concluded that teachers were aware of the importance of co-curriculum activities for mental and physical growth of learners since they have an opportunity to share ideas, agree on the rules and general behavior that they should exhibit during the activity. The schools and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology should develop better strategies and motivational programmes to increase teachers’ participation in co-curriculum activities in secondary schools. Teachers should be offered training in co-curriculum activities in order to increase their confidence and participation levels.

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