dc.description.abstract | The purpose of the study was to establish head teachers’ characteristics
influencing instructional supervision in public primary schools in Ruiru Sub
County of Kiambu County. Specifically the study aimed at determining the extent
to which head teacher‘s in service training influence instructional supervision; to
establish the extent to which the head teacher’s academic qualifications influence
instructional supervision; to find out the extent to which head teacher’s
administrative experience influence instructional supervision, and to find out
whether head teachers’ gender influence instructional supervision in public
primary schools in Ruiru sub county. The study employed descriptive survey
design. The target population consisted of thirty public primary schools, thirty
head teachers and six hundred teachers. The sample size consisted of nine head
teachers and one hundred and eighty teachers from nine public schools. Simple
random sampling technique was used to select the schools and the teachers while
the head teachers of the sample schools were picked purposively. The study
adopted the Path Goal Theory that states that a leader’s behavior is contingent to
the satisfaction, motivation, and performance of his or her subordinates. The
research instrument were own constructed questionnaires that were administered
to the head teachers and the teachers. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistic
in form of frequency tables, percentages and charts. The study established that
head teachers’ in service training, academic qualifications, and administrative
experience influence instructional supervision. The study also established that,
head teacher’s gender had no influence on instructional supervision. The study
recommended that due to the importance of instructional supervision curriculum
developers should incorporate the aspect of instructional supervision in pre
service teachers’ training syllabus. KEMI and the MoEST should organize more
in service and refreshers courses focusing on instructional supervision to all
administrators. The policy makers should stipulate the minimum number of years
that the teacher should teach before getting head ship positions. The study
concluded that most of the head teachers had high academic and professional
qualifications which were important in instructional supervision. On the other
hand majority of the head teachers had attended various in-service training
courses which were related to instructional supervision. The study recommended
more research to be carried out in Ruiru Sub County in order to find out other
factors which may influence instructional supervision in public primary schools. | en_US |