Use of the School Library in Enhancing Learning in Public Primary Schools in Kakamega County, Kenya

Abstract

The school library is a resource that when learners use effectively supports learning and enhances academic achievements. Learners in public primary schools are unable to read and understand (Uwezo Assessment Report, 2011) yet there is a school library to enhance learning. The focus of the study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between the use of the school library as a learning resource and learning in public primary schools in Kakamega Central Sub-County, Kakamega. Descriptive survey design was adopted. Schools were sampled by stratified sampling technique according to head teachers, teachers and learners in order to establish the relationship between the school library as a learning resource and academic achievement. It was marked by frequency of library use, support of pupils by their teachers and a functional school library having a direct relationship with learning and academic achievement. The research instruments to collect data were questionnaires for teachers and learners, attitude scale for teachers to establish teachers' attitudes on library use and interview schedules for head teachers. Content validity was ascertained by the supervisors. To ascertain reliability, the instruments were piloted in one school within the Kakamega Central Sub-County, which was not included in the study sample. Data was analyzed qualitatively. The key findings showed that learners that are exposed to the library in the schools are more motivated to learn and discover things compared to those who are not. Thus the exposed learners had higher scores in their performance reflected in their academic achievement. It is hoped that the findings will add to knowledge on the utilization of school libraries as resources to enhance learning and assist in development of the necessary library policies