Influence of Teacher Motivation to Academic Performance of Pupils in Primary Schools in Kenya

This study investigated the influence of teacher motivation to the academic performance of pupils in primary schools in Nyamira South Sub-County. The population of study was 147 head teachers and 836 teachers in Nyamira South Sub-County. Stratified sampling was used to get a sample of 84 teachers and 15 head teachers .A mixed method design was adopted for this study that used qualitative and quantitative approaches in collecting and analyzing data concurrently. A questionnaire was used to collect data from the teachers while an interview schedule collected from head teachers. Quantitative data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The descriptive statistic was used to describe and summarize the data inform of frequencies and percentages. Pearson correlation analysis was used to establish the relationship between the independent and dependent variable with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The correlation analysis established a positive but weak (r= .439; p=.000<.05 correlation between teacher motivation and pupils academic performance. Qualitative data from the interview was analyzed using thematic approach. Data was coded and themes analyzed as they emerged. Analyzed data were then merged for presentation and discussion. The study concluded that the teacher motivation had a significant influence to academic performance of standard eight pupils in K.C.P.E. The study recommended that teachers should be given better motivation in terms of salaries, letters of recommendations and promotions. The results obtained may help the government and the community to make necessary changes and improvements so as to improve the education performance in the sub county.