This research project investigates the determinants of poor academic performance in business
studies in public mixed secondary schools in Kajiado North Kajiado County. The study was based
on the following objectives: To determine the extent to which methods adopted in teaching
business studies by the teachers affect students’ poor academic performance in business studies in
public mixed secondary schools, To find out the effect of future career aspirations on students’
poor academic performance in Business Studies in public mixed secondary schools, To investigate
the influence of the availability and usage of instructional materials on student’s poor academic
performance in Business Studies in public mixed secondary schools, and To determine the effect
of students’ attitude towards business studies on poor academic performance in the subject in
public mixed secondary schools. The study used questionnaires for data collection, the data was
collected from 3 public mixed secondary schools. Business studies students and teachers were
selected using a simple random sampling method. The Statistical Package for Social Science
(SPSS) version 21 has been used for data analysis and descriptive statistics was employed to
present data. The findings revealed that majority of teachers use teacher-centered method of
teaching which hinders students’ active participation in business studies lessons leading to poor
academic performance in the subject. Majority of secondary schools lack well-equipped library
and computer laboratory with instructional materials such as business studies textbooks,
computers, laptops, projectors, and internet. Also, both teachers and students do not make adequate
use of the instructional materials because of their insufficient, hence poor academic performance
in the subject. Students who were influenced by their future career aspirations to choose business
perform better than those who choose the subject because of influence from others. Students with
negative attitudes toward business studies perform poorly in the subject. In addition, the study
revealed that there is shortage of qualified business studies teachers in public secondary schools.
The researcher recommended that the Government should provide sufficient instructional
materials through provision of well-equipped library with textbooks and well-equipped computer
laboratory with computers, projectors, and internet to facilitate teaching. The government should
employ more qualified business studies teachers. Teachers should diversify teaching methods,
make adequate use of instructional materials, and motivate students. Principals should organize
seminars to update teachers in their teaching skills and supervise both teachers and students to
ensure good academic performance. Students should have a personal study timetable with more
time allocated to business studies and should use the available learning materials. Parents and
mentors should motivate their children to have positive attitudes towards business studies, provides
learning materials for their children and help them have clear awareness of their future career
aspiration.