Assessment of headteachers’ effectiveness in management of school resources in the implementation of free primary education in Kalama division, Machakos county

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the head teachers’ management of resources in the implementation of Free Primary Education in Kalama division, Machakos County. The objectives of this study were; to assess the head teachers’ management of human resources in the implementation of FPE in Kalama division, to establish the head teachers management of the schools financial resources in the implementation of FPE, to assess the head teachers management of the physical and material resources in the implementation of FPE in Kalama division and to find out the challenges faced by head teachers in management of school resources in Kalama division. The study was based on Educational Leadership Theory. The study employed descriptive survey research design. The study entailed both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The target population included 58 head teachers, 375 teachers and 58 parents, in primary schools in Kalama division. A sample of 18 schools forming 30% of the targeted schools was sampled for the study, which comprised 18 head teachers, 113 teachers, 18 parents who are the PTA representatives for class 8 in the schools. Questionnaires were used to collect data from the teachers and head teachers, while an interview guide collected data from the PTA. The study also entailed an observation guide, to collect data on the conditions of the school facilities. Piloting of questionnaires was done on 4 head teachers and 8 teachers in 4 primary schools in the same division that were not sampled for the study. The validity of the research instruments was ascertained by experts in the school of education of Mount Kenya University. The split- halves method of measuring reliability was used to estimate the degree to which the same results could be obtained within a repeated measure of the same concept. Instrument reliability was tested by employing the Spearman Brown split half prophesy technique. A correlation coefficient of 0.74 was obtained and deemed reliable. Data was cleaned, coded and analyzed by use of descriptive statistics facilitated by statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 17.5. Graphs, pie charts, tables, percentages and frequencies were used for data presentation. The study established that; in the area of management of schools physical and material resources, the head teachers were found to be timely and effective in management. The rising enrolment as a result of FPE led to the resources being inadequate. The head teachers were found to be effective in management of the financial resources in the schools. However, the funding from the government was inadequate, and was usually delayed in disbursement. The study further established that the head teachers in Kalama division were effective in management of human resources in primary schools; however the school teaching staff was not adequate in most of the schools. The study recommended that the government should employ more teachers to cater for the increased enrollment, the FPE funds should be disbursed on time, to allow for timely acquisition of the learning materials and that the government should increase the allocation on infrastructure and maintenance funds, to cater for the school facilities and physical resources.