Influence of headteachers' personal characteristics on pupils' performance in Kenya Certificate of Primary Education, Naivasha District, Kenya

Abstract

The study endeavored to determine the influence of headteacher's personal characteristics on pupils' performance in Kenya Certificate of primary Education (KCPE), Naivasha District. The poor performance in the district has been of concern to the stakeholders in the district. In trying to mitigate this problem, five objectives guided the study. Objective one was to determine the extent to which the headteacher's leadership style affects the performance of pupils in KCPE. Objective two aimed at establishing how the headteacher's age influences the performance of pupils in KCPE. The third objective focused on identifying the extent to which the headteacher's professional qualifications influenced the performance of pupils in KCPE. Objective four aimed at establishing how gender of the headteacher influences the performance of pupils in KCPE. The last objective was to establish to what extent the headteacher's administrative experience influences the performance of pupils in KCPE The study adopted descriptive survey design.

The study gathered the data using questionnaires and document analysis. The study revealed that most headteachers practiced democratic type of leadership. It also revealed that schools headed by headteachers above 50 years had higher performance index. It was also revealed that the number of male headteachers exceeded that of female headteachers although schools headed by female headteachers posted a slightly higher performance index than those administered by their male counterparts. Based on the above findings, it is concluded that the headteacher's leadership style and age do not influence pupils performance in KCPE. Furthermore, neither the headteacher's professional qualifications nor the administrative experience influence pupils' performance in KCPE. The study revealed that the gender of the headteacher influences KCPE performance of pupils.

It is therefore recommended that post training courses be offered to headteachers on administrative and other school management practices in order to improve their administrative skills. It is also recommended that frequent transfer of headteachers in the district be limited in order to allow the headteachers settle in one school and become familiar with their operations. Based on the above findings the following suggestions are made for further research: suggestion one, an investigation should be carried out to establish whether the school's environment has any influence on pupils' performance in KCPE examinations. Lastly a similar study should be carried out in other provinces especially in a rural set up to establish whether pupils' performance in KCPE in influenced by headteachers personal characteristics.