| dc.description.abstract | The success of any educational organization largely depends on sound management practices. Following demand for service delivery over the years, organizational and management styles have had to change accordingly. One of the significant management reforms instituted by the Kenya government in recent times has been the introduction of performance contracts in public institutions including Primary Teacher Training Colleges (PTTCs).
This study therefore sought to- investigate the institutional factors influencing implementation of performance contracts in Primary Teacher Training Colleges in Eastern and Central Kenya. The objectives of the study were to determine the extent to which the administrator's age, education level, administrative experience and training level in performance contracting influence performance contract implementation in the colleges. The study also sought to determine the extent to which the age of the institution, revenue sources, adequacy of facilities and size of the college influence iniplementation of performance contracts as well as the extent to which the colleges are adhering to policy guidelines on performance contract implementation.
The study was carried out in eight PITCs through descriptive survey design. Purposive sampling was used for the study to allow the researcher to use the cases with the required information with respect to the objectives of the study. The target population of the study was administrative personnel including eight principals, eight performance contracting coordinators, 18 deans and 80 Heads of Department (HODs). A sample of 56 respondents was targeted consisting of 16 principals, 16 deans and 24 HODs. Data was collected personally by the researcher after conducting a pilot study to validate the data collection instruments. Questionnaires and interview schedule were used for the study.
Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. It was processed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study established educational experience and level of training of administrators in performance contracting as the main personal characteristics of administrators influencing implementation of performance contracts in PTTCs, while revenue sources and adequacy of facilities were established as the key institutional factors influencing implementation of performance contracts. However, physical facilities and learning resources were found to be inadequate.
The study also established that college managements were adhering to the policy guidelines on performance contracting implementation. Although performance contracts were found to be effective tools for improving performance in the colleges, the study revealed that administrators experienced challenges in the implementation process. The study concluded that training is an important prerequisite to the effective implementation performance contracts in PTTCs, colleges needed adequate funding, facilities and learning resources, and college managements were committed to successful implementation of performance contracts.
To ensure meaningful success of the performance contracting strategy, it is recommended that elaborate and continuous training programmes be provided for managers and other staff, budgetary allocation for the colleges be increased, existing facilities be expanded, and proper planning to match increase in enrollment with expansion of existing facilities be adopted. The researcher suggests further research on training needs assessment of performance contracting, replication of the study in other areas and other tertially institutions to validate findings, and factors contributing to excellent performance of the best performing colleges. | en_US |
