Abstract:
Sign language is a system of communication that uses manual alphabets, hand gestures, facial
expressions and finger spelling to convey meaning. It is used in communication as well as
instructional language during teaching and learning process. However, there are variations in sign
language worldwide and Kenya is no exception. The variations in sign language may affect
academic performance among students in secondary school for the hearing impairment (HI). This
study aimed at to identifying the sources of variations and the effects of variations on academic
performance of students in HI schools. The study was guided by the ecological system theory of
human development. Descriptive research design was employed. The target population of the
study was 17 secondary schools for HI students, 589 form four students and 189 teachers. Two
questionnaires were used, one for the teachers and the other for the HI students. A pilot study was
conducted to assess the validity and reliability of research instruments. Data was analyzed
descriptively with the help of SPSS version 25. The results were presented in tables and figures in
form frequencies and percentages. Results from the respondents established that there were
Original Research Article
Sheila et al.; AJESS, 23(2): 48-62, 2021; Article no.AJESS.76827
49
variations in the KSL which were brought about by the family background, the teachers’
interactions, peers and friends, the curriculum and also regional variations. It was also established
that the variations affected the way the students receive and respond to various concepts during
teaching and learning process which affected their academic performance. The study concluded
that there were variations in the KSL, which influenced students’ academic performance. The
researcher recommends that curriculum developers should consider these findings and align the
curriculum to reduce variations. Curriculum developers to use the media to teach the community
on the appropriate signs used for communication in Kenya more in service courses for the trained
teachers to all other teachers to get the basic sign languages used in Kenya.
