Principals’ administrative challenges in improving Kenya certificate of secondary education Performance in public secondary schools in Yatta District Machakos county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate Principal’s administration challenges in trying to improve performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). The study investigated the professional and academic qualifications of the principals, challenges faced by public secondary school principals in school planning and policy implementation, maintaining teacher co-operation, maintaining good teacher-student relationship. The study was limited to public secondary schools in Yatta District of Machakos County. The researcher employed descriptive survey design in which questionnaires with both structured and unstructured questions were used for data collection from the public secondary school principals and deputy principals. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics by use of frequencies and percentages and presented in form of tables and charts. Principals and deputy principals were found to have the minimum academic qualification for teaching secondary schools but lacking professional administrative training. The challenges faced by principals included maintaining good administration-teacher co-operation, enhancing good teacher student relationship. In conclusion, it was found that principals and deputy principals have a role to play in acquit ion of good results .It was found that principals and deputy principals have acquired academic qualification for teaching in secondary schools but lacked professional knowledge in specific areas like accounting .The study recommended that Principals and Deputy Principals should undergo induction courses in educational management before being deployed. It further recommended that Teachers Service Commission (TSC) should promote teachers on merit so as to improve teacher competition.