Thesis:

Influence of school management practices on implementation of competency-based curriculum in public junior secondary schools in Kuresoi north sub-county, Nakuru county, Kenya

School management practices play a vital role in the successful implementation of competency- based curriculum (CBC) in junior secondary schools. However, in Kuresoi North Sub- County, there have been challenges in implementing CBC. Many students in public junior secondary schools in this area demonstrate low competencies in key CBC teaching areas. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate how school management practices impact the implementation of competency-based curriculum in public junior secondary schools in Kuresoi North Sub- County, Nakuru County, Kenya.. To guide the research, the study drew upon the systems theory and the curriculum implementation theory. A mixed methodology approach was adopted, combining both phenomenological and descriptive research designs. The target population for this study consisted of 171 respondents, including 20 headteachers, 149 junior secondary school teachers, and 2 Sub- County Directors of Education from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Ministry of Education (MoE). A sample size of 122 respondents were determined using Yamane's Formula. Stratified sampling was employed, dividing the population into four different strata based on the number of zones in Kuresoi North Sub- County. From each zone, two headteachers were be purposively selected. All Sub- County Directors of Education were also included in the study. Additionally, 28 junior secondary school teachers were randomly selected from each zone to ensure unbiased representation. This sampling technique resulted in a sample size of 8 headteachers, 112 junior secondary school teachers, and 2 Sub- County Directors of Education. Questionnaires were employed for the collection of quantitative data from teachers, while interview guides were utilized to gather qualitative data from headteachers and Sub- County Directors of Education. Furthermore, a document analysis guide was used by the investigator. To ensure the study's validity, reliability, credibility, and dependability, a pilot test was carried out with 13 respondents selected from a sample of public junior secondary schools in Kuresoi North Sub- County.The data analysis began by identifying common themes from the respondents' accounts. Qualitative data was thematically analyzed based on the study's objectives and presented in a narrative format. On the other hand, quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages, as well as inferential analysis employing Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Analysis. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 25) was used for the analysis, and the findings were presented through tables and charts. There was a moderate positive and statistically significant correlation between management support services and CBC implementation in public junior secondary schools in Kuresoi North Sub- County (r = 00.531; p < 00.05). This then implies that management support services have a positive impact on CBC implementation in public junior secondary schools in Kuresoi North Sub- County.