The relationship between management factors and academic performance in primary schools in Imenti South District

Abstract

Kenya has made significant gains in reduction of illiteracy by increasing enrollment in primary schools' in recent years. Literacy levels have increased considerably from 10 % in 1960 to 60% in 1998 for women and from 30 % to 82 % for men. Demand for provision of education has also increased at all levels. This has lead to a high competition for schools. The choice between a joining private and a public school is one of the hard decisions that families and individuals have to make in Kenya today. Parents and pupils consider many factors in making these choices some of them being management and performance of the school. This study sorted to find out if there is any relationship between management factors and school performance. The study used descriptive survey with ex-post facto research design. The research was carried out in Imenti South District of Eastern provinces, Kenya. The accessible population was 600 respondents in 60 primary schools. Stratified random sample of 87 respondents from 30 schools whom 54 were teacher, 30 were head teachers and 3 zonal education officers was used. Quantitative data was collected using questionnaires. These instruments were piloted to ascertain their reliability while experts ascertained their validity before putting in use. Means, t-test, Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient and ANOVA were used to analyse the data. All hypotheses were tested at P<.05 level using the Statistical Packages of Social Sciences (SPSS) Computer programme. The result indicated that: There was a negative correlation between Working Experience (length of time in one grade) and Performance at K. C. P. E.; there was a negative correlation between the teacher-pupil ratio and the rate of school completion; there was no significant difference in adequacy of learning resources in public and private primary schools and there was a positive correlation between adequacy of supervision of the curriculum and the quality of learning and teaching in primary schools in Imenti south district. It is concluded that management factors in the study has a relationship with performance in primary schools in Imenti south district. The recommendation was that regular review of teachers' grade and more adequate curriculum supervision be carried out in order to enhance performance and the teacher-pupil ratio be increased in order to increase school completion rate.