Influence of primary school headteachers' management practices in performance of Kenya certificate of primary education in Tigania East sub county.

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The role of a head teacher in a school in regard to management of the institution and implementation is very crucial. Tigania East is a sub county in Meru County. The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of primary school head teachers' management in the performance of Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE). This research was necessitated by poor performance witnessed in the Sub-County for the last . The study targeted 104 public primary schools in the Sub-county. The respondents included 10 head teachers, 90 teachers, 278 pupils, 2 education officers and 4 parents focused groups. The study used descriptive survey research design. The data was collected using questionnaire for head teachers, teachers and pupils. Interview schedules ministered to education officers while parents focused groups were subjected to discussions. Piloting was done in three primary schools to check the reliability and validity of the research instruments. Data analysis was done using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 15.0. It was concluded from the results that 70% of the support school programs, 30% ,are not aware of what happens in school and do not attend meetings called by the headteachers. According 50 percent of headteachers, primary schools in the Sub-county have no guidance and counseling programs. However all teachers asserted that guidance and counseling is used to reduce cases of indiscipline in their respective schools .. According to 90 percent of headteachers, all hers and pupils, indiscipline cases affect school performance. According to 60% of hers schools receive support from politicians; however 28.9% of them indicated that are transferred on political grounds. It was observed that political campaigns often disrupt the normal running of schools. Eighty percent of the pupils approved the way school resources contributed to KCPE performance. Fifty nine percent of the teachers, .52% pupils and 60% of headteachers indicated that schools had programs geared towards motivation. Consequently, it was recommended that primary school head hers in Tigania East Sub County should devise ways of involving parents in motivating teachers and encouraging parents to attend meeting in schools. Headteachers -should learn how to deal with politicians to minimize their interference with the school airs. Issues of discipline should be handled by both teachers and parents. The headteachers should improve on their integrity in order to win support from all stakeholders.