Factors influancing principal in administration of public secondary schools in kitui district,Kenya

Abstract

Accomplishment of educational goals to a large extent depends on proper school management under the guidance of principals. Principals play a key role in achievement of educational goals and objectives in schools. Poor academic performance in schools has been blamed on poor preparation of students, lack of adequate facilities, resources, indisciplined students, and shortage of qualified teachers, therefore this implies that the principals could be facing challenges in school management. The purpose of the study was to establish the factors influencing principals in the administration of public secondary schools in Kitui District. The findings of the study are useful to principals, parents, Education Officers, sponsors, scholars, and trainers of principals (KESI). The study objectives were to: examine whether academic qualifications influence the effectiveness of principals in management of secondary schools in Kitui District; establish whether the work experience influence the effectiveness of secondary school principals in Kitui District in school management; examine whether gender influences the effectiveness of principals in management of secondary schools in Kitui District; determine whether the inservice training influence the effectiveness of principals in management of secondary school in Kitui District; and investigate whether there are strategies for addressing the challenges encountered by secondary school principals in Kitui District. The study employed the descriptive survey. The target population comprised of all the 72 public secondary schools having done KCSE in Kitui District. The study sample included 30 principals and 60 teachers. Data was collected using questionnaires and an observation schedule. Descriptive statistics, including frequency counts, means and percentages were employed during analysis. The findings of the study were summarised and reported using tables, pie charts and bar graphs for ease of communication. The study established that the factors influencing effectiveness of principals in school management included initial training in terms of academic qualifications and attendance of in-service training. It therefore emerges that training is an important determinant of effectiveness in management. The study observed that principals with more work experience performed better in school management than those with fewer years of experience. It was realized that gender did not influence effectiveness of principals in management of schools. The study recommends that the government to organize more in-service training courses for all principals, deputy principals and heads of departments in order to equip them with school management skills; the government to invest more on school infrastructure to ensure that the working environment is supportive in terms of physical and material resources. Financing to public secondary schools should be increased to improve on existing infrastructure and aid in purchasing teaching and learning resources.