Influence of principals' individual characteristics on Human Resource Management practices in secondary schools in Mbeere South District, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of principals' individual characteristics on human resource management practices in secondary school in Mbeere South District Kenya. The objectives of the study were to establish, the influence of principals' administrative experience, educational level, exposure to in-service training and gender in human resource management practices.

The study employed a descriptive survey design targeting a population of 16 principals', 127 teachers and 48 support staff members. The study applied purposive sampling for principals and simple random sampling for teachers and support staff members. The data was collected using questionnaires for principals and questionnaires for teachers while interview schedule was used for collecting data from support staff as research instruments. Expert judgement was used to ensure validity of the instruments.

Data was analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages. Qualitative data was thematically presented in narrative forms and in tables. The major findings of the study were that principals' administrative experience greatly influenced their human resource management practices. Long serving Principals had attended many training on human resource management as compared to those that had served for a short period. They had influence in organising retreats, workshops and seminars for teachers and encouraging them to exercise high levels of work ethics.

Preservice training had little or no influence to the principals'human resource management practices. This had been attributed by the number of years that had elapsed before one was appointed a principal. Attendance ofin-service training positively influenced principals' human resource management practices. Principals' gender did not influence his human resource management practices. The study recommended that the ministry of Education and other related education organs carry out in-service training programmes for the principals immediately upon appointment. The in-service training prepares the principals' to keep abreast with emerging issues which enhance their administrative responsibilities.

Principals attendance of in-service courses offered at KEMI make them improve their working relations with teachers and support staff which enhances confidence of teachers and support staff to their principals should be conducted regularly atleast once per year for the principals' and teething problems as to who to finance the inservice courses dissolved. This would enhance participation since at times schools which currently support these courses may not at times be able to sponsor principals' financially to attend those inservice training. This intum motivates the human resource in schools and improves performance not only to the TSC employees but also to those employed by the B.O.G.