RANGE OF NON-TEXTUAL MEDIA INTEGRATED IN THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION [CRE] IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Christian Religious Education (CRE) is an important subject for moral and spiritual development. Despite its importance, the subject has been taught with minimal use of non-textual media. This is because schools in Vihiga County of the Republic of Kenya are faced with inadequate provision of Non-Textural Instructional Media which hampers efficient teaching and learning of the subject. The purpose of this study was to determine the availability of the range of Non-Textual Media integrated in teaching and learning of Christian Religious Education in Vihiga County, Kenya. The study was based on Descriptive survey Design. The study population consisted of 112 Head Teachers, 160 Teachers of CRE and 1213 Form Two Students. Simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 25 Head Teachers, 53 Teachers and 400 Form Two Students (representing 33% of the study population). Data was collected using Questionnaires, Teachers’ Focused Group Discussion Guide, Lesson Observation Schedule and Document Analysis. Reliability of research instruments was established by carrying out a pilot study involving 11 Head Teachers, 16 Teachers of Christian Religious Education (CRE) and 121 Students. Validity of instruments was ascertained by presenting the instruments to 3 experts in the school of Education of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology who examined the content and advised the researcher on content validity. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, means and percentages, summarized and presented in tables. Qualitative data was carefully read paying attention to ideas of the respondents, then organized categorized and presented in narratives according to various emergent themes. The study found out that; Electronic type of Non-Textual Media like; Video Tapes, Computer Mediated Materials, Recorders and Mobiles are not available, hence not integrated at all in teaching and learning because they are either inadequate in schools or not available due to lack of funds. This inhibits the entire teaching and learning process of Christian Religious Education (CRE) in secondary schools. The study recommends that; the Ministry of Education should provide adequate funds and a wide range of Electronic type of Non-Textual Media in schools to enhance integration of Non-Textual Media in teaching and learning of Christian Religious Education (CRE).