An investigation of head-teachers' related factors affecting the implementation of the free primary education in Yathui division in Machakos district

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the headteachers related factors affecting the implementation of FPE in Yathui Division in Machakos District. The objectives of the study were to:- • Find out if the headteachers were trained in financial management skills to enable them implement the FPEsuccessfully. • Find,out the headteachers co-ordination strategies to mobilize the local communities towards the support of the implementation of FPE. 8 Asses the methods used -by headteachers to organize the physical facilities inorder to cater for increased pupil enrolment due to implementation of FPE. • Establish how the headteachers have organized for the accommodation of children with special learning needs who joined the schools after inception of FPE. • Find out how headteachers have organized to source for more teachers inorder to facilitate for the successful implementation of FPE. • Identify the headteachers training needs in relation to the implementation of FPE. Random sampling was used to select 67 respondents from the seventy eight (78) schools in the division. A questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. All the questionnaires were dully completed and returned. Data was then analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages. From the analyzed data the study found that due to the poor school communily relations, headteachers were not able to effectively mobilize the communities to support the implementation of FPE.The study also found that some schools had disputes with the communities around them in regard to boundaries and that generally the headteachers had limited knowledge on how tc create a good relationship with the community. The study found that most schools did not have enough classrooms to cater for FPE. The existing classrooms were found to be small in comparison with the increased number of pupils. The study revealed that the number of children with special needs.had increased but the schools had not made arrangements to cater for them in regard to training of teachers, provision of extra classrooms and toilets. It was also established that the headteachers needed training in areas such as management, public relations, guidance and counseling and special education. Based on the findings, the study concluded that the implementation of FPE needed to have been made with prior preparation of the headteachers on the challenges they were likely to face. This was found to be due to their direct appointment from classrooms into management positions. The study also concluded that the size of the classrooms were too small to cater for the number of pupils. Based on the conclusion, the study recommended that the headteachers should be trained through in-service courses. The study recommended that the appointment of headteachers be based on training on management after which in-service courses should be provided to keep them abreast with new developments. Areas for further study were recommended.