Effect of headteacher's personal characteristics on administration of student personnel task in public secondary schools in Mathioya division Murang'a district

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Headteacher's personal characteristics on administration of student personnel task in public secondary schools in Mathioya division Murang'a District. Five research questions were formulated to guide the study. Literature review focused on what other researchers and authors had pointed out concerning student personnel task issues mainly guidance and counselling, discipline, student involvement in decision-making, student records and student welfare services. This study was conducted using descriptive survey method targeting all the headteachers in the division. The study used questionnaire, interview schedule and document analysis. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that headteachers administered students tasks in the area of discipline, of guidance and counseling and spons it was also revealed that students were not to a large extent involved in decision making. The study found out that all schools had admission registers which were well updated but did not have other required records such as student personnel records and health records Headteachers did not adequately administer students personnel tasks in the area of students welfare. It was also found out that headteachers' experience had no effect on the administration of student personnel tasks. Findings further found out that headteachers personal characteristics; experience, professional qualification, age and gender, did not have any effect on administration of student personnel tasks Based on the above findings it was concluded that headteachers' experience had no effect on the administration of student personnel tasks. It was also concluded that headteachers professional qualification did not have any effect on administration of student personnel task. There was no significant effect in the age of headteachers and administration of student personnel tasks. Gender of the headteachers did not affect their administration of student personnel tasks. It was also concluded that there is no significant difference between gender of the headteachers and administration of student personnel tasks. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that the government should come up with clear policy measures to improve discipline such as reinstating corporal punishments, that teachers should be empowered to deal with indiscipline. It was also recommended that parents should be sensitized on the school rules, schools should limit the number of visitors to the schools, that erraborate curriculum should be put in place, that schools should have all the records that they are supposed to have and have them updated and checked and lastly that students should be guided to come up with proper decisions on running the schools, that they should be involved while school make their rules, that there should be democratic elections of student representatives, Taking the limitations and delimitations of the study, it was suggested that a study on the impact of student involvement in school administration and its effect on discipline should be conducted and another study on factors hindering effective involvement of students in school administration