Influence of management strategies on Kenya certificate of Primary education performance in Chuka Division of Tharaka Nithi county, Kenya

Abstract

Effective management strategies entails that the managers must control the working force of their institutions. The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of leadership styles to K.C.P.E. performance in primary schools in Chuka Division of Tharaka Nithi County. This study adopted descriptive survey research design. The population for the study comprised of 71 Head teachers, 71 Deputy Head teachers and 540 Teachers from 71 public/boarding primary schools. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 25 head teachers, 25 deputies and 198 teachers. Questionnaires were used as the instruments for data collection from the respondents. Piloting was conducted in three primary schools in the neighboring Magumoni division which has similar characteristics. Data collected from the questionnaire was analyzed using descriptive statistics and findings presented in frequency tables, graphs, pie charts and percentages. This study established that headteachers did not attend seminars due to lack of a career and professional development programme in place to enhance and promote acquisition of new and relevant knowledge for headteachers. There was no reward programme for teachers who perform well, a clear indication of lack of motivation for teachers. In addition, study findings reveal that there is understaffing coupled with inadequate facilities to support learning in primary school in the District which affects the academic performance in the region. Study findings also reveal that there are so many students per class which increase workload for teachers. This makes it cumbersome for teachers to meet the needs of each and every pupil. Parents were accused of lack of support and co-operation in matters regarding their children education. The government should increase allocation of funds to provide for more amenities and learning resources to facilitate learning in the schools. Such additional funds can also be used in hiring of more teachers to curb the understaffing problem. Additionally, parents should be sensitized on the need to make education of their children a priority in the face of the present economic predicament by adequately providing for their school materials. Parents should also promptly attend school meeting when matters concerning their children’s education are discussed. Further research is needed to investigate the role of family structure in academic performance in Kenyan primary schools.