| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of headteachers' leadership styles in KCSE performance in public secondary schools in Taita District due to poor performance of students in KCSE examinations over the years. The study attempted to establish whether there was a relationship between leadership styles and demographic variables such as gender, professional and academic qualifications, professional experience, category of school, and age. Five research questions were formulated to guide the study. Literature review focused on the role of leadership in an educational organisation, highlights of leadership styles, trends in the study of leadership, studies on the leadership styles as they related to the study. In the final analysis the conceptual framework of the study highlighting the impact of headteachers' leadership styles on the teachers in relationship to students' academic performance. The study adapted ex-post facto research design, data was collected from 20 headteachers and 117 teachers drawn from 20 schools in the district.
Findings revealed that there was a significant relationship between headteachers' leadership styles and students' performance. The findings further revealed that autocratic leadership had high performance in their schools. It was also revealed that majority of teachers perceived their headteachers as 'being democratic. The study found out that headteachers perceived themselves as democratic. There was no significant relationship between teachers' gender, age, and academic qualification and their perception of their headteachers' leadership styles. It was also found out that there was no significant relationship across gender, age, academic qualifications, teaching experience and their
experience as headteachers. Findings also revealed that there was no significant difference
in headteachers' leadership styles in various categories of schools.
Based on the findings the researcher recommended that there IS need for facilitating headteachers' leadership styles as they had a direct relationship with students' academic performance. It was also recommended that headteachers should use the most appropriate leadership styles that facilitate collective responsibility and which create a conducive teaching and learning environment in schools. It was also recommended that there was need to involve teachers and parents in matters of students' performance in schools.
In view of the limitations and delimitations of the study the researcher suggested that a study should be conducted in the following areas:
• A study on the relationship between teachers' level of motivation and students' academic achievement should be conducted.
• A study on teachers' perception of headteachers' leadership styles and their job performance should be conducted.
• A study on the effect of headteachers , related factors and students' performance. | en |
