Influence of headteachers' leadership styles on students' performance in KCSE in public secondary schools in Tetu district, Nyeri county
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Date
2014
Authors
Mugo, Evelyne Wakini
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Headteachers' leadership styles are seen in their behaviors and how they interrelate with.
teachers, students, parents, and other school staff. If the headteacher has an effective
leadership style, he or she can engender a positive climate in the school. The purpose of
this study was to assess the influence of headteachers' leadership styles on KCSE
performance in public secondary schools in Tetu District. The study was guided by three
main objectives: to determine leadership styles used by headteachers, to evaluate the
effect of headteachers' leadership styles on performance in KCSE by students and to
identify challenges faced by head teachers in instructional leadership in public secondary
schools in Tetu District. Path-goal theory was reviewed. The study adopted a descriptive
cross-sectional design and targeted all the headteachers, teachers and Form 3 students in
public secondary schools in Tetu District. Using census technique for headteachcrs and
random stratified sampling for teachers and students, the researcher sampled 25
headteachers, 70 teachers and 283 form 3 students to participate in the study.
Questionnaires were employed in data collection. Qualitative and quantitative techniques
were used in data analysis with the help of SPSS version 20. The findings indicated that
majority (97%) of the teachers indicated that decisions regarding school progress are
solely made by the head of school and the governing body. In addition, 52% of the
students indicated that the headteachers did not allow students to choose their own
leaders or the chosen ones were rejected. The findings indicated that directive leadership
behaviour had a significant effect on school performance. There was significant
relationship (P=O.013) where decisions regarding school progress were solely made by
the head of school and the governing body and the school performance. Further, there
was a negative correlation (r= -0.63, p<0.05) between directive leadership and
performance in KCSE where most schools scored D and D- grade. Delayed fees payment
(39%), uncooperative parents (23%), and students' indiscipline (20%) were the most
cited difficulties facing headteachers in public secondary schools in effecting
instructional leadership. The researcher concluded that most secondary schools
headteachers in Tetu District practice directive leadership style. The researcher also
concluded that the widespread use of directive leadership style is to a large extent
responsible for the dismal performance of students in KCSE examinations. The
researcher recommended there is need for public secondary schools headteachers in
Tetu district to avoid overuse of directive (autocratic) leadership style. The
researcher also recommended that there is need for retraining head teachers in public
secondary schools in Tetu district in leadership and management.
Description
Department of Educational Management Policy & Curriculum Studies, 73p. 2014