The Relationship Between Teachers’ Attitude Towards Performance Appraisal And Their Commitment To Service In Public Secondary Schools In Rachuonyo South Sub – County, Kenya

Abstract

Teachers’ performance in public secondary schools in Kenya remains the concern of the public and the government. According to Rachuonyo South Sub-County Education Board (2016), teacher commitment to duty has been wanting. It’s argued that teacher absenteeism and laxity in teaching could be affecting students’ performance in the national examinations. Also students’ cases of indiscipline have been on the rise in certain schools. The Teachers’ Service Commission introduced teachers’ appraisal policy in 2012 to improve on teachers’ service delivery in public schools, a departure from annual confidential report that has been in place over the years. Teachers’ performance appraisal is a method of monitoring and evaluating a teacher’s performance at the school level. It involves setting of performance target, periodic assessment, feedback on evaluation, performance based consultations, gathering evidence to demonstrate performance, rating of the performance, identification of performance gaps and planning on teacher development and support measures (T.S.C ACT 2012). The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of teachers’ attitude towards performance appraisal on their commitment to service in public secondary schools in Rachuonyo South Sub-County. The study population was 605 public secondary school teachers in the Sub-County. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select teachers. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from the teachers. Validity and reliability of instruments was determined before use. Quantitative data based on responses has been analyzed by use of descriptive statistics namely: Frequencies and percentages and then presented using tables, graphs and charts. The correlation between teachers’ attitude and their commitment to service in Rachuonyo South Sub- County was +0.779 which was insignificant as far as correlation studies was concerned. One of the study was that the response was not 100% as this could have tilted the results. It was recommended that the study covers wide area and also considers principals of secondary schools and Head teachers of primary schools. The findings of the study may be useful to policy makers and educational partners at the T.S.C. as far as teacher management practices are concerned.