Determinants of deputy principals’ job satisfaction in public secondary schools in Limuru District, Kenya

Abstract

The study aimed at investigating the determinants of deputy principals’ job satisfaction in Limuru District, Kenya. The study specifically looked at the extent to which: recognition by stakeholders influenced deputy principals’ job satisfaction, work load influenced deputy principals’ job satisfaction, promotion prospects influence deputy principals’ job satisfaction and interpersonal relations with stake holders influenced deputy principals’ job satisfaction. The study was guided by Herzberg’s theory of motivation. The target population consisted of all the deputy principals and principals of public secondary schools of Limuru public secondary schools and the two DQASOs. The study used descriptive survey design and questionnaire for principals and deputy principals and interview schedule for DQASOs were used to collect data. Frequency tables, percentages, pie charts were used to inform on phenomena. A pilot study was conducted in four secondary schools to determine validity while reliability was ascertained through test-retest technique. Data obtained was subjected to descriptive statistic analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). From the study findings it was concluded that job related factors like recognition, workload, promotion prospects has significant influence on the deputy principals’ job satisfaction. On recognition by stakeholders the study revealed that deputy principals were satisfied with recognition given by principals, fellow teachers, parents and BoM, but not satisfied with recognition given by the employer (TSC).On work load majority of deputy principals were not satisfied with their workload. On promotion prospects, deputy principals were not satisfied with the current trend of promotions in the education sector (47.6 percent) were not satisfied with fairness in promotion. On interpersonal relations with stakeholders the research findings revealed that deputy principals were satisfied with people around them, 85.7 percent of the respondents were satisfied with their interpersonal relations with parents and teaching staff. Research findings also indicated that the deputy principals were not satisfied with the job factor of promotion. From the findings of the study, deputy principals were highly satisfied with recognition by stakeholders followed by interpersonal relations, workload and lastly promotion prospects. It is recommended that; pay package can be introduced for deputy principals in recognition of many duties they perform; policies governing promotions of deputy principals should be reviewed by the TSC. The researcher also recommends that promotions be effected automatically after working for a number of years such as three years. There is also need to create more promotional opportunities for deputy principals. The TSC should also embark on employment of more teachers to reduce workload of deputy principals.