The study sought to investigate factors affecting students’ performance in physics practicals in
public secondary schools in Ngong sub-County, Kajiado County. In this study a descriptive
survey design was used. Two schools were involved in the study giving a sample size of 100
students thus form four’s and form three’s combined, and 4 physics teachers. Questionnaires
were used as an instruments for collecting data to both teachers and students. The data was
descriptively analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Scientists (SPSS).
The findings obtained from the study showed that there were a number of factors that affect
student’s performance in physics laboratory practical work. These include, teaching
methodology, availability of teaching and learning resources, and student’s attitude. The detailed
findings were summarized and presented inform of tables and pie charts.
From the study, the teachers are encouraged to be creative and use alternative teaching methods
during practical lessons and in their course of teaching they have to promote student’s
participation to make sure that students are having hands-on-experience of what they are
learning. In moments when there is a lack of apparatus, the teachers have to improvise and use
necessary teaching aids to help the learners to grasp the concept and to learn the necessary skills
needed. Teachers have to motivate their students by pointing out the value of physics in the
society and different job opportunities that are available for those who have studied physics,
school management has to motivate physics teachers and provided necessary material to
empower science subjects in a school particularly physics.