Influence of head teachers’ leadership style s on pupils’ performance at Kenya certificate of primary education in Matinyani sub county , Kitui county kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the inf luence of head teachers’ leadership styles on pupils’ performance at K.C.P.E. in public primary schools in Matinyani Sub County. The study objectives were ; to establish the influence of autocratic leadership style on K.C.P.E. performance in Matinyani Sub C ounty, Kitui County, to determine the influence of democratic leadership style on K.C.P.E. performance in Matinyani Sub County, Kitui County and to establish the influence of Laissez - faire leadership style on K.C.P.E. performance in Matinyani Sub County, Kitui County . The study was based on Fielder’s contingency theory of leadership and employed descriptive survey research design. The sample for the study comprised of 6 public primary school in the division with 6 head teachers, 6 deputy headt eachers and 24 teachers. The design adapted for this study was descriptive survey. The study used head teachers ‟ , deputy head teachers and teachers questionnaires for data collection. Based on the findings, it was concluded that Democratic leadership styl e was most applied in primary schools that were identified to have better academic performance. Democratic leadership styles are applied by some head teachers and it comes second in academic performance while most of schools indicated that their head teach ers applied autocratic leadership style and have dismal academic performance. While the schools that indicated that their head teachers apply laissez - faire leadership style scored very poor performance since everyone is left to do as they will. Based on th e findings it was recommended that head teachers should use the most appropriate leadership style that facilitates collective responsibility and which creates a conducive teaching and learning environment in schools. It was also recommended that there was need for facilitating head teachers leadership skills as they had a direct relationship with students academic performance. The study also recommended that head teachers should be provided with in - service courses on leadership which is a prerequisite for a cademic performance.