Thesis:

Influence of principals’ management strategies on students’ Academic performance in public secondary schools in Wajir North sub-county, Kenya

Research investigated nature of influence of principals’ management strategies on students’ academic performance of public secondary schools. Management strategies was characterized by provision of resources, supervision practices, discipline management and principals’ motivation strategies while students’ academic performance by improvement in standardized test scores, enhanced graduation rates and improved attendance rates. Investigation was guided by General Systems Theory in conjunction with Theory of student participation. Research intended to find out and recommend what type of relationship exist between management strategies of principals in public secondary schools on students’ academic performance following liberalization for education sector in Kenya. Mixed methodology and descriptive design were used. Research study location was secondary public schools in Wajir North Sub- County where a target population of 2, 212 participants that is 1 Sub-County Director of Education, 4 principals, 94 teachers, 1, 627 students and 486 parents were targeted. By use of Slovin’s formula, a sample of 339 participants including 1 Sub-County Director of Education, 4 principals, 40 teachers, 194 students and 100 parents was arrived at. Questionnaires, interview schedules guide and focus group guide tools for collecting data were used to gather information from participants. Testing for validity of instruments was done by vetting by experts where content validity was done with consultation with supervisor but for face validity was improved through preliminary testing. Instrument’s reliability was tested using Cronbach’s alpha formulae and adjusted to increase reliability coefficients to 0.70. Piloting in two schools in Buna Sub-County was conducted. Quantitative information was analyzed by use of frequency tables and inferentially by use of Karl Pearson’s correlation coefficient to determine relationship using Statistical Packages for Social Science Version 24. However, qualitative data on the other hand analysis was done thematically then presented in narration while quantitative data analysis was attained using percentages, frequencies and use of Karl Pearson correlation coefficient to test relationship and results interpreted by use of graphs, percentages a long with frequency tables. Based on research findings it was found that principals’ provision of resources such as human resources and instructional resources has a significant influence on students’ education success. In addition, supervision of teachers’ and students’ activities in school are critical including supervision of records of work. However, discipline management has to be effective, fair and consistence to facilitate academic success of students and motivation practices such as teachers’ capacity building helps teachers to develop enthusiasm aiding in change of attitude and creation of morale among students to study. However, the study recommends that there is a rising need for educational policy makers to give priority on resource allocation in schools, increase funding of instructional resources, increase hiring of qualified teachers while improving school physical infrastructure. Moreover, Board of Management may facilitate digitalization of supervision practices in schools, and ensure that discipline management strategies are effective, fair and consistence. Consequently, school leadership ought to ensure school motivation policies are effective and consistence among students’ and teachers in order to improve academic performance.