Amount of time Spent by pre-primary children in viewing television and Achievement in Learning Activities in Kangema Sub-County, Murang’a County

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue XI, November 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705

Amount of time Spent by pre-primary children in viewing television and Achievement in Learning Activities in Kangema Sub-County, Murang’a County

Wairimu C. Irungu¹, Dr. Mary Ndani²

¹School of Education, Department of Early Childhood Studies and SPECIAL Needs Education, Kenyatta University, P.O Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
²Lecturer, Department of Early Childhood Studies and Special Needs Education, Kenyatta University, P.O Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to establish the extent to which pre-primary children view television in Kangema sub-county. The study used survey research design and was guided by Gadberry’s, displacement theory. The study was conducted in Kangema Constituency of Murang’a County. The target population was made up of the 320 preprimary school children in the 10 selected primary schools in the region. Random sampling was used to obtain the sample of 60 children and 60 parents. One teacher from each of the schools participated in the research. All sampled respondents who participated in the research were 60 children, 60 parents and 10 teachers making a response rate of 100 percent. Data was collected by use of questionnaires for the teachers, interview schedules for the parents and observation checklist for pre-primary school children. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected on variables related to the influence of TV programmes on performance of pre-school children’s. Qualitative data were analyzed according to study themes while descriptive statistics namely frequencies, means, percentages were used to analyze quantitative data. Frequency tables as well as bar graphs were used to present information obtained. The analysis established that majority of children watch television. The study recommended a national policy be put in place to guide television program transmitters regarding how they can make programs bearing in mind the needs of pre-primary school children. Parents have to be sensitized regarding amount of time their children are left to watch television and how to take appropriate action to prevent children from being addicted to television.

Keywords: Television, Activity level, Pre-primary children

I. INTRODUCTION

Findings on children’s reading achievement indicates that a significant number of children in several parts of the world are not able to read at their class levels (Maduekwe, 2010). In Africa, similar studies conducted in Uganda and Tanzania recorded poor numeracy and literacy skills. Specifically, in Tanzania the study found that, 92.3% of the standard three pupils could not read a class two text in English (Research Triangle Institute, 2010). In Uganda, the study found that 98% of the pupils in class three could not read a class two story in English and that 28% could not read a class two text by the time they completed primary schooling (RTI, 2010).

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