| dc.description.abstract | Accomplishment of educational goals to a large extent depends on proper school management
under the guidance of principals. Principals play a key role in achievement of educational goals
and objectives in schools. Poor academic performance in schools has been blamed on poor
preparation of students, lack of adequate facilities, resources, indisciplined students, and shortage
of qualified teachers, therefore this implies that the principals could be facing challenges in
school management. The purpose of the study was to establish the factors influencing principals
in the administration of public secondary schools in Kitui District. The findings of the study are
useful to principals, parents, Education Officers, sponsors, scholars, and trainers of principals
(KESI).
The study objectives were to: examine whether academic qualifications influence the
effectiveness of principals in management of secondary schools in Kitui District; establish
whether the work experience influence the effectiveness of secondary school principals in Kitui
District in school management; examine whether gender influences the effectiveness of
principals in management of secondary schools in Kitui District; determine whether the inservice
training influence the effectiveness of principals in management of secondary school in
Kitui District; and investigate whether there are strategies for addressing the challenges
encountered by secondary school principals in Kitui District.
The study employed the descriptive survey. The target population comprised of all the 72 public
secondary schools having done KCSE in Kitui District. The study sample included 30 principals
and 60 teachers. Data was collected using questionnaires and an observation schedule.
Descriptive statistics, including frequency counts, means and percentages were employed during analysis. The findings of the study were summarised and reported using tables, pie charts and bar
graphs for ease of communication. The study established that the factors influencing
effectiveness of principals in school management included initial training in terms of academic
qualifications and attendance of in-service training. It therefore emerges that training is an
important determinant of effectiveness in management. The study observed that principals with
more work experience performed better in school management than those with fewer years of
experience. It was realized that gender did not influence effectiveness of principals in
management of schools.
The study recommends that the government to organize more in-service training courses for all
principals, deputy principals and heads of departments in order to equip them with school
management skills; the government to invest more on school infrastructure to ensure that the
working environment is supportive in terms of physical and material resources. Financing to
public secondary schools should be increased to improve on existing infrastructure and aid in
purchasing teaching and learning resources. | |
