ASSESSING TEACHER EXPECTATIONS ON STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENT IN KENYA . A CASE STUDY IN SELECTED PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOOL IN KAJIADO COUNTY

Abstract

This study sought to assess teacher expectations on students’ achievement in Kajiado County, focusing on selected public secondary schools. ‘‘The purpose was to explore how teacher expectations, academic expectations, and growth mindset collectively influence students’ academic achievement’’. The study was anchored on Rosenthal and Jacobson’s Pygmalion Effect Theory, complemented by Dweck’s Mindset Theory and Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. The research objectives were to examine the effect of teacher expectations on students’ achievement; to analyze how academic expectations shape student performance; and to evaluate the role of a growth mindset in enhancing achievement. The study targeted a population of 2,000 participants consisting of 1,600 students, 350 teachers, and 50 school administrators, with a sample size of 266 students, 60 teachers, and 7 administrators. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Data were collected through structured questionnaires distributed among the sampled groups. The data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics including frequencies and percentages and presented in tables and charts for clarity. ‘‘Findings revealed that teacher expectations significantly influence students’ motivation and performance; academic expectations set by teachers and institutions enhance students’ commitment to academic work; and promoting a growth mindset among students contributes to improved academic outcomes’’. The study concluded that positive teacher expectations combined with supportive academic environments and deliberate cultivation of a growth mindset are critical in boosting student achievement. It recommended professional development programs for teachers to raise awareness of expectation effects, fostering growth mindset practices in classrooms, and strengthening academic support systems within schools in Kajiado County.