Influence Of Headteachers’ Motivational Practices On Teachers’ Performance In Public Primary Schools In Kisumu West Sub County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of headteachers’ motivational practices on teachers’ performance in public primary schools in Kisumu West Sub County, Kenya. Four objectives were formulated to guide the study: to establish the influence of headteachers’ provision of facilities and materials on teachers’ performance, to determine how headteachers’ recognition of teachers influences their performance, to examine how headteachers’ involvement of teachers in decision making influences their performance and to establish how headteachers’ clinical supervision influences teachers’ performance. The research used descriptive survey design. The target population consisted of 81 head teachers and 762 teachers from public primary schools in Kisumu West Sub County. Systematic sampling technique was used to sample 12 head teachers since it ensured equal chances for all schools to be included in the research. Simple random sampling technique was used to sample 114 teachers. The study used interview guide and questionnaires for headteachers and teachers respectively due to their convenience and low cost. Both quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques were used. The findings were analyzed using SPSS and it showed that majority of the teachers were motivated with the head teachers’ provision of facilities but demotivated with their provision of materials. Concerning recognition, majority of teachers were dissatisfied that they were not being recommended for promotion and acknowledged for the work they do. Decision making process is significant in every institution and head teachers are expected to be good decision makers for any institution to be managed effectively. However, head teachers have been found to be wanting when it comes to their inclusion of teachers in decision making. On clinical supervision, majority of teachers were motivated with how the head teacher attends to their issues, feedback and checking of professional records. Based on the findings, it was concluded that the motivational techniques used by head teachers such as; provision of teaching and learning materials, recognition of teachers, their inclusion in decision making and clinical supervision contribute to teachers’ motivation resulting into positive performance. The researcher recommended that education stakeholders should see to it that schools have adequate materials necessary for the teaching and learning process. Head teachers need to appropriately recommend deserving teachers for promotion, device strategies for recognizing teachers and be open minded and accommodative to teachers’ suggestions for the realization of meaningful performance. The researcher suggested that a study on other factors influencing teachers’ performance, other than motivation, should be studied; a similar study should be conducted in Private Primary Schools and in the neighbouring Sub Counties with a view to improve on the findings and recommendations arising from this study.