Performance Appraisal Systems and Performance of Teachers in Selected Day Secondary Schools in Thika West Kiambu County, Kenya.

Abstract

Organizations must build appealing performance appraisal programs to help inspire their workers to work hard for the optimal results expressed in their productivity. Regardless of the efforts and resources for implementing various performance appraisal systems in the country, the performance of employees has deteriorated to a significant degree. The ultimate goal of the study was to assess the major effect of teacher performance appraisal systems on selected high schools in Thika West, County Kiambu, Kenya. The study was guided by specific objectives that entailed; determining the effect of performance appraisal techniques, performance appraisal feedback, reward systems and performance monitoring of teachers in selected secondary schools in Thika. The study was guided by Hackman and Oldham Job Characteristics Model, Goal setting theory and Expectancy theory. This study used a descriptive research design. The target population was 276 teachers that entailed, Principals, Deputy Principals, senior teachers, departmental heads and teachers in the public secondary schools that used performance appraisal systems to evaluate the performance of teachers. A sample size of 163 respondents was selected to partake in the study this was calculated using Yamane formula. To ensure construct validity, a pilot test was carried out with 20 respondents, where the results were used to make adjustments where necessary. The study used structured questionnaires to obtain primary data from the respondents. In order to collect key data from respondents, the analysis used standardized questionnaires. The data obtained from the questionnaires were then grouped in order to be evaluated and tabled on the basis of the study questions in the statistical package of social science (SPSS version 24.0). Through the use of descriptive statistics, data was analyzed and displayed in frequency tables and pie charts. The research took ethical account of how the data from the participants was handled when obtained. Data was presented in form of tables, charts and graphs. The study also conducted regression and correlation analysis to test the relationship between the study variables. The study established that the Regression Model revealed performance appraisal system was statistically significant at five percent level of significance, performance appraisal system had a positive and significant effect on teacher performance of selected day secondary schools in Thika west in Kiambu County. The regression correlation also revealed that, the regression model revealed that feedback was statistically significant. Therefore, at five percent level of significance, feedback had a significant positive effect on teacher performance of selected secondary schools in Thika west. In relation to reward systems, Reward system was statistically significant thus, at five percent level of significance, reward systems had a positive and significant effect on teacher performance of selected day secondary schools in Thika west. The regression model in relation to monitoring and evaluation, clearly revealed that, monitoring was statistically significant. The findings from the study was of value to the teachers to enable them adopt the best performance appraisal systems, the government in policy formulation, and academicians and researchers may find the research useful as it will be a point of reference and add to the existing body of knowledge. The study recommended that further similar studies should also be carried out on private secondary schools, to provide a clear overview of teacher‟s performance. The study also suggested that more research to be conducted in other counties since the study was carried out in Kiambu County.