Influence of corporate culture on peformance of students at Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education at Manga Sub County, Nyamira County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of corporate culture on performance of students in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education. The study sought to determine the influence of school leadership, assessment tests, community involvement and supportive learning environment on performance of students in KCSE. The study employed a descriptive survey design and used structured questionnaires for teachers to collect data. The study targeted 250 teachers in 50 sampled secondary school teachers within Manga district, Nyamira County. The researcher obtained 182 completed questionnaires hence the study attained 72.8 percent return rate. The obtained results were organized in excel and analyzed using excel spread sheets and SPSS. The analysis included use of comparative statistics such as percentages. Regarding school leadership, the study established that the prevalent leadership style in the sampled schools was both participative and transformational. Schools with higher rating for extent to which its leadership was participative had higher KCSE mean scores in the year 2013 and 2014 as compared to those having lower rating of school leadership consistency with participative style. Regarding influence of assessment tests on student performance in KCSE, the study established that the schools held an average of 5 tests each term, vetted by Head of Departments or/and examination committee. The schools with higher rating as regards quality and sufficiency of assessments had higher KCSE mean score for the years 2013 and 2014 as compared to those with lower ratings. Regarding community involvement, the schools with higher rating on the extent of parent involvement had higher KCSE mean score compared to schools with lower ratings. Regarding the influence of school environment on student performance in KCSE the sampled teachers felt that student supportive environment in schools has a positive impact on student performance. The schools with average lower Likert scale rating in relation to; extent of participative style of leadership, extent of assessment quality, extent of parent/guardian involvement in school affairs, and extent of student supportive school environment had lower KCSE mean scores compared to those with higher ratings. The study concludes that Student Performance can be influenced by; School Leadership, Administered Assessment Tests, Community Involvement and Student support Environment in schools. To this end, the study recommends that Kenyan secondary school leadership should apply participative leadership style, administer relatively more exams consistent with national exams, increase community participation and ensure good student support environment within schools.