Factors influencing head teachers’ resource management of district secondary schools in Kieni east division in Nyeri county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors influencing head teachers resource management in District secondary schools in Kieni East district. They include funds, human resource, political interference and physical structures. The objectives of the study were to determine how the level of education of head teachers, availability of funds, availability of teachers, physical facilities and political interference affects resource management of district secondary schools. The research design for this study was descriptive survey. The target population for the study were all the twenty head teachers and 160 teachers in Kieni east District. While the sampling design used was purposive. The data collected was analyzed by use of descriptive statistics. Frequency, percentage, tables and graphs were used to present the data. The data collected was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) programme. The following were findings of the study; that 84.6% of the head teachers had experience in headship as they served for over six years, while 42% of teachers were form four leavers who have been employed by BoM. Majority of teachers 92.1% confirmed that funds received were not adequate which concurred with 60%of head teachers who confirmed the same.86% of teachers reported that they did not have adequate teachers for all lessons while 61.5%head teachers reported that there were times students were left without teachers . 84.6% of schools had politicians in their CDF Committees hence political interference in managing of district secondary schools, while 93%of teachers indicated that they did not have adequate physical facilities in their schools where as 76.9% head teachers indicated that they did not have adequate offices and dinning halls that could accommodate their students. It was recommended that the government should avail adequate funds for the schools and these funds should be disbursed in time. These funds would be important in paying the BOM teachers and in purchasing the required teaching and learning materials and resources. The school CDF committees should not include politicians in the management of schools to avoid political interference. Schools also lacked enough teaching personnel. TSC has not been posting teachers to those schools. Head teachers are forced to employ untrained teachers. This brings more difficulties as the funds available are scarce and instead of being directed to physical facilities, they are directed to paying those teachers. Government is advised to provide teachers to the emerging and already established District Secondary schools in time for better performance of the head teachers.