Influence of Staffing Levels on Quality of Education in Public Secondary Schools in Murang’a County, Kenya
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Date
2022
Authors
Mwaniki, Wilson
Ogola, Martin
Nyerere, Jackline
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International peer reviewed Journal and Book publishing
Abstract
Statement of the Research Problem: Teaching staff is crucial in the provision of quality
education in public secondary schools. However, in Murang’a County, many public
secondary schools registering a low quality of education.
Purpose of the Study: This study aimed at determining the influence of staffing levels on
quality of education in public secondary schools in Murang’a County, Kenya.
Methodology: The study adopted a correlation research design. This study targeted 292
principals and 3206 teachers totaling 3498 from which a sample of 360 respondents (10.3%)
was determined using Yamane’s Formula. Using stratified sampling, eight strata considering
sub-counties were created. From every sub-county, three principals were selected using
purposive sampling. However, from each sub-county, 42 teachers (14 teachers per school)
were selected using simple random sampling to avoid bias. Questionnaires were used to
gather information from principals and teachers whereas a documentary checklist guide was
used by the researcher. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as
frequencies and percentages and inferentially using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation
Analysis with the help of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS 23) and presented by
using tables.
Research Findings: The study established that students’ academic performance in national
examinations (KCSE) is low, students’ completion rates with quality grades (C+ and above)
are on a decreasing trend and levels and frequency of participation in co-curricular activities
are low. From the study findings, the student-teacher ratio in public secondary schools is high
owing to the high number of students enrolled courtesy of the Free Day Secondary Education
Policy. This implies that, by having an inadequate number of teachers, it is difficult to attend
to academic and other delegated duties and thus, not possible to accord students individual
attention, which is the essential aspect of quality education.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The findings of this study lend
credence to the premise of the Education Production Function Theory since it revealed that
there is a correlation between instruction resources and quality of education. As a practice,
secondary schools should engage in alternative income-generating activities to acquire more
financial resources to hire more teachers to supplement government’s efforts to bridge the
gap in the student-teacher ratio. As a policy, the government should ensure adherence to the
policy on fair distribution of teachers based on the number of students
Description
Article
Keywords
Staffing levels, quality of education, secondary schools
Citation
Mwaniki, W., Ogola, M., & Nyerere, J. (2022). INFLUENCE OF STAFFING LEVELS ON QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN MURANG’A COUNTY, KENYA. Journal of Human Resource and Leadership, 7(1), 59-70.