Barriers to Implementation of Performance Contracting among Public Primary Teacher Training Colleges in Kenya
Abstract
Performance contracting was introduced in higher learning institutions including primary
teacher training colleges in the year, 2008.The government has been carrying out
evaluation for the purposes of monitoring the progress of performance contracting
implementation (GoK, 2012). Inspite of introduction of performance contracting in the
public primary colleges, not all predetermined targets have been achieved. The purpose
of this study was to investigate barriers to implementation of performance contracting
among public primary teachers training colleges in Kenya. The study sought to find out
how management practices, institution's organizational culture, capacity building and
resources influence the implementation of performance contracting in public primary
teacher training colleges. The study adopted descriptive survey design and was guided by
Total Quality Management (TQM) evolution theories by Stewart and Crossby. The study
was carried out in three public primary teachers colleges in the Central region of Kenya.
The sample comprised 9 members of senior management, 18 members of performance
contracting secretariat and 56 members of teaching staff randomly sampled from the
three public colleges. The research instruments included a questionnaire for heads of
departments, performance contracting secretariat and members of teaching staff. An
interview schedule was conducted for senior management. The raw data obtained were
analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS version 21) and the report
presented in distribution tables and bar graphs. The results of this study revealed that
although introduction of performance contracting in public primary teacher training
colleges had greatly enhanced management practices in the colleges, there was
organizational knowledge gap between senior management and the rest of staff.
Declining work ethics, resistance to change, inadequate capacity building of staff and
inadequate resources were identified as barriers to implementation of performance
contracting in the public primary teacher colleges. The findings of this study may be
useful to the policy makers, educational managers and GoK as they set performance
contracting targets.