Leadership effectiveness of principals on academic performance of secondary schools in Gatanga district Murang’a county

Abstract

The main aim of this study was that despite the economical enormous growth rate in the district, students’ is not satisfactory. Factors influencing this performance have not been adequately investigated since it is a newly formed district in the country. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the principal leadership effectiveness in the administrative tasks and how this affects the performance of the secondary schools in terms of academic results at the national examinations KCSE. The main focus of the objectives was to investigate whether leadership of the head teachers has an impact on the performance of the students. The researcher used descriptive survey design. The sample schools were sampled using stratified sampling techniques, using the criteria of educational zones. For the schools sampled, an equal number of two teachers and the principal were selected. The research instruments included questionnaires for principal and teachers, which helped to establish the demographic data of the respondents. They also comprised of instructed open ended and close ended questions. An observation schedule was conducted by the researcher. The research employed both qualitative and quantitative techniques to analyse data. The study provided theoretical and practical implications on education. The data collected was presented in form of frequency tables and percentage from which various findings from both principals and teachers were made. It clearly shows that leadership is dominated by mates in the age bracket of forty to fifty years, whose educational background is master degree and above. The other findings indicated that principals were very effective in management of finances in areas of budgeting, monitoring of school expenditure. Another important finding was that principals were very effective in the management of curriculum, staff personnel, physical facilities and school community relations. The conclusions made were that leadership in public secondary schools in Gatanga District is dominated by males. It was concluded that principals were very effective in management of finances and school business. Finally it was concluded that leadership effectiveness of principals has a direct impact on the school performance. The recommendations were that the principals should act as the pivot of the schools for the success of the entire institution.