ATTITUDE OF STUDENTS TOWARD PHYSICS: ITS INFLUENCE TO THEIR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN WEST POKOT COUNTY, KENYA

Students success in mathematics depends upon attitude toward physics. It also influences the participation rate of learners. In the last few years, that is 2011 to 2013 there was continuous fall in the performance of the subject of physics in secondary schools in West Pokot in the County. However this caused a lot of tension among the various stakeholders. The studys objectives were to; analyze the performance of students in physics in West Pokot County secondary schools in the years 2011, 2012 and 2013, identify the factors which determine students attitude toward physics in secondary schools and examine the relationship between students attitude toward physics and their academic performance. Respondents were selected through simple random technique. Since the purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of secondary school students attitude toward physics on their academic performance in secondary schools, stakeholders constituted the sample. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview guide before being presented using graphs. The data was analyzed using Pearson Chi-Square analysis. Primary source and secondary source were also used to enrich the study. It was found that the number of students in the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 who had failed the physics subject were as follows: 205, 286 and 299 respectively. The majority were between ages of 15-17 years. Research revealed that parents role, gender of students, teachers remarks were the major factors determining the students performance in physics. Further still, it was found that there was a significant relationship between students attitude toward physics and their academic performance (x2=70.002, df =20, p=0.000) of students in secondary schools in west Pokot in Kenya. It therefore implied that students attitude determines their academic performance in Physics. In the light of the above findings the study recommends that stakeholders at all levels should ensure that schools are well equipped with required resources and personnel to boost physics performance. Permission was obtained from the ministry of education West Pokot County, Kenya.