The Influence of Classroom Seating Position on Student Learning Gains in Primary Schools in Kenya

Abstract

This paper examines the contribution of classroom students’ seating positions to learning gains. Data were gathered from a sample of 1907 grade six students who sat for the same seat twice over an interval of about 10 months. They were drawn from a random selection of 72 low and high performing primary schools. Results of a multi-level regression show that seating in the front row in a classroom led to higher learning gains of between 5 percent and 27 percent compared to seating in other rows that are farther away from the chalkboard. The policy implication to education is that student’s seating position can be manipulated in a way that it optimizes learning gains for slow learners.