Publication: Strategies employed by school managers in enhancing Learners’ transition from primary to secondary Education in Makindu Sub–County, Makueni County, Kenya
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2014-11
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Mount Kenya University
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Abstract
The central problem of this study is that despite the efforts by the government of Kenya and other
stakeholders to accelerate access and quality of education at all levels, many learners do not get
access to Secondary Education in Makindu Sub- County, Makueni County. Factors that hinder
learners’ access to Secondary Schools have not been adequately investigated and well understood,
hence many learners dropout of school after the completion of primary education or within the
first two years in secondary school. Thus, the study intended to examine the strategies employed
by school managers in enhancing transition of learners from primary to secondary education in
Makindu Sub-county, Makueni, Kenya. The review was based on the concept of school
management and transition, motivation strategies, supervision strategies, instructional resources
and school facilities with an aim of identifying research gaps. The study applied mixed methods,
that is, quantitative and qualitative methods. The study applied concurrent triangulation research
design which enabled the researcher to use the quantitative and qualitative methods during the
same timeframe and with equal weight. Questionnaires, interviews and observation checklists were
used to collect data from preschool managers and teachers, parents’ representatives and preschool
children respectively. Pilot survey was conducted twice amongst 1 secondary school principal, 2
primary school head teachers and 17 form I students to establish validity and reliability as
determined using test retest method. The reliability coefficient, r = 0.908, was determined using
Pearson’s Correlation Method. Makindu Sub-county has 73 primary schools, 21 secondary and
thus; the target population of this study was 73 primary school head teachers, 21 secondary school
principals and 1012 form I students. The researcher sampled 8 primary school head teachers, 3
secondary school principals and 84 form I students. The researcher applied purposive sampling to
select the primary school head teachers and secondary school principals whereas simple random
sampling was applied to select form I students. The collected data was analyzed inferentially using
quantitatively and qualitatively and then merged into one overall interpretation in which the
researcher related the quantitative results to the descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.
Frequency counts of the responses were obtained to generate information about the respondents
and to illustrate the general trend of findings on the various variables that were under investigation.
Quantitative data was analyzed using Chi-square in Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS
Version 21). The findings of the study were presented using percentages and tables. The study
established that there is significant relationship between management strategies adopted by school
managers and transition of learners from primary to secondary education. The study has
established that school managers play critical role in the transition of learners from primary to
secondary schools and thus recommends school management should devise ways of motivating
both teachers and learners by providing conducive teaching and learning. The government should
formulate a policy to ensure adherence to policies on strategies of school management and
requirements of Basic Education Act, 2013.
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Management, Leadership