EFFECTS OF TEACHER RE-TOOLING IN INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING ON GRADE EIGHT LEARNERS’ NARRATIVE PARAGRAPH WRITING SKILLS IN ENGLISH IN PUBLIC JUNIOR SCHOOLS IN BOMET CENTRAL SUB-COUNTY, KENYA

Penulis

  • Kiprono Robert Kosgey School of Education, Department of Curriculum Instruction and Education Management, Bomet University, Kenya
  • John W. Wayong’o Department of Curriculum Instruction and Education Management, Bomet University, Kenya
  • Waweru Muriithi Department of Psychology and Foundations, Bomet University, Kenya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejel.v11i4.6944

Kata Kunci:

teacher re-tooling, inquiry-based learning, narrative paragraph writing, grade eight learners’ writing skills, competency-based education, Kenya

Abstrak

This article reports findings from the first objective of a study that examined the effects of teacher re-tooling in Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) on Grade Eight learners’ narrative paragraph writing skills in English in public Junior Schools in Bomet Central Sub-County, Kenya. The study was motivated by persistent weaknesses in English writing among learners entering Junior School and by the implementation of government-supported teacher re-tooling in IBL under Competency-Based Education. The objective was to determine the effects of teacher re-tooling in IBL on learners’ narrative paragraph writing skills in English. The study adopted a causal-comparative mixed-methods design. The wider study involved 365 Grade Eight learners and 10 English language teachers drawn from public Junior Schools in five educational zones. Data for the objective were generated through teacher questionnaires, classroom observation checklists, learners’ written tests and triangulation of the three sources. Quantitative data were summarized using means and changes in performance, while a paired-samples t-Test was used to establish whether the difference between performance before and after re-tooling was statistically significant at α = .05. The findings showed gradual improvement in narrative paragraph writing. Teacher ratings increased in introduction writing from 0.60 to 0.80 and body development from 0.60 to 0.70, while the overall teacher-rating mean increased from 0.56 to 0.60. Classroom observation showed an overall increase from 3.217 to 3.312, and written-test performance increased from 3.286 to 3.311. However, title writing remained largely stable, while conclusion writing and coherence continued to present challenges. The paired-samples t-test showed that the difference was not statistically significant, t (364) = -0.952, p = .342. The article concludes that teacher re-tooling in IBL was associated with positive descriptive changes in learners’ narrative paragraph writing, but sustained implementation, guided practice, formative feedback and continued teacher professional development are needed to produce statistically significant improvement.

Biografi Penulis

  • Kiprono Robert Kosgey, School of Education, Department of Curriculum Instruction and Education Management, Bomet University, Kenya

    Kosgey Kiprono Robert is a postgraduate Masters student and researcher in Language Education at Bomet University. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in English and Literature from Moi University. His research interests include teacher professional development, Inquiry-Based Learning, Competency-Based Education and English language writing skills.

  • John W. Wayong’o, Department of Curriculum Instruction and Education Management, Bomet University, Kenya

    Dr. Wayong’o John W. holds a PhD in Language Education from the University of Nairobi, Master of Education degree (English Language Education from Moi University) and Bachelor of Education degree (English and Literature) from Moi University. He is an accomplished lecturer of language education at university level. He is an accomplished researcher particularly in teaching and learning of writing skills in English, scaffolding, integrated writing skills, teacher professional development and use of technology in English language teaching and learning. He is a mentor postgraduate students’ training at Bomet University.

  • Waweru Muriithi, Department of Psychology and Foundations, Bomet University, Kenya

    Dr. Waweru Muriithi is a Lecturer in Guidance and Counselling in the School of Education, Department of Educational Psychology and Foundations, Bomet University. He holds a PhD in Counselling Psychology from Egerton University. His research and professional interests include counselling psychology, education, learner support and educational research.

Referensi

Alshumaimeri, Y. A., & Almasri, F. A. (2021). The effects of using inquiry-based learning on EFL students' writing achievement. Arab World English Journal, 12(2), 267–283. https://doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol12no2.18

Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa. (2023). Teacher capacity building for competency-based education in Kenya. CEMASTEA.

Chen, Y., & Zhang, L. (2023). Inquiry-based writing instruction and learners' narrative writing performance. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 14(3), 612–624.

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2023). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (6th ed.). Sage. Retrieved from https://books.google.ro/books/about/Research_Design.html?hl=id&id=Rkh4EAAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y

Darling-Hammond, L., Hyler, M. E., & Gardner, M. (2020). Effective teacher professional development. Learning Policy Institute. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED606743

Desimone, L. M. (2009). Improving impact studies of teachers' professional development: Toward better conceptualizations and measures. Educational Researcher, 38(3), 181–199. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X08331140

Ferris, D. R., & Eckstein, G. (2020). Writing correction, feedback, and revision in second language writing: Trends and future directions. Routledge.

Hyland, K. (2021). Second language writing (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511667251

Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development. (2023). Basic education curriculum framework: Guidelines for implementing competency-based education. KICD.

Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Prentice Hall. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235701029_Experiential_Learning_Experience_As_The_Source_Of_Learning_And_Development

Piaget, J. (1972). The psychology of the child. Basic Books. Retrieved from https://books.google.ro/books/about/Psychology_Of_The_Child.html?id=jtV-AAAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y

Teachers Service Commission. (2023). Teacher re-tooling for competency-based curriculum implementation: Junior school training manual. TSC.

Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvjf9vz4

Unduhan

Diterbitkan

2026-08-18

Terbitan

Vol 11 No 4 (2026)

Bagian

Articles

Lisensi

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

 

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

 

  1. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

 

  1. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).