| dc.description.abstract | Leadership can be defined as the process of influencing activities of an individual or a group in effort towards goal achievement in a given situation based on the situational leadership theory Leadership style is the leadership style of an individual in the behaviours pattern that a person exhibits The study sought to find out effect of principals' leadership styles on academic performance of secondary in Imenti North District.
The mutation of the study was based on the need to establish why most secondary schools in Imenti North District continue performing poorly yet they have well trained and qualified teachers. The schools are also strategically situated in district with good climatic condition favorable for learning. Imenti North district has schools with good entry behaviours in form one yet students continue performing poorly.
The Principal is a key factor in performance of students Research Instrument used in the study was descriptive survey design as it is not restricted to fact findings but also resulted in the formulation of important principals of knowledge and solution to significant problems. The researcher used questionnaires to collect data from Principals, teachers and students. 12 principals were selected on purposive sampling as one which involves selecting a sample based on experiences or knowledge of the group to be sampled. 48 teachers and 96 students were randomly selected to produce a sample size of 158 respondents.
The pilot study was conducted in one school with the aim of testing the reliability and validity of the instruments. Data was analyzed using statistical package for social scientists (SPSS). According to summary for principals behaviours self rating responses, 44 (41.5%) were in support of democratic style 38 (35.8%) in support of autocratic and 24 (22.6%) responses were given in support of Lassiez faire. According to the teachers' perception of the study, 38.1 % responses were in support of democratic style, 35.6% in support of autocratic, 26.3% responses were given in support of Lassiez faire. According to summary for Self perception of leadership by student, 461 (48.6%» responses were in support of democratic style, 214 (22.6%) in support of autocratic 273 (28.8%)
Reponses were given in support of Lassiez faire. The study revealed that there was continuous decline in performance in most of the schools in Imenti North District. The findings of the study is expected to highlight the needs for the training of principals in leadership so as to improve their performance and help them to re-examine and upraise their own leadership styles towards students achievement and adjust where possible. | en_US |
