Relationship between school organizational climate and puplis' academic performance among public primary schools in Nairobi province, Kenya

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between school organizational climate and pupils' academic performance among public primary schools ion Nairobi Province. The study also investigated the relationship between school organizational climate hand headteachers' administrative experience, gender and professional qualification. To achieve the purpose seven research questions were formulated. To answer the research questions 12 null hypotheses were formulated and tested.

Ex post facto research design was used. The study sample comprised 40 out of 177 schools that had presented candidates for K.C.P.E by 1998. This represented 22.6 per cent of the population. The instrument used in soliciting information on school organizational climate was Organizational Climate Descriptive Questionnaire (OCDQ). The instruments was development by Halpin and Croft (1966). The scores on pupils' academic performance were requested from Nairobi City Education Department. The scores were based on the Kenya National Examination Council results of 1997 and 1998.

The data gathered was analyzed using frequency distribution, percentages, contingency tables, and chi square statistic. The analysis was done at p<. 05 level of confidence.

The main findings of the study included the following:

- There was a significant relationship between school organizational climate and pupils' academic performance.

- Majority (61.3 %) of the schools approaching an open climate had pupils' exhibiting high pupils' academic performance. In schools approaching a closed climate majority (88.9 %) had pupils exhibiting low academic performance.

- There was a significant relationship between headteachers' behaviour of thrust and pupils' academic performance.

- Majority (65.4%) of the schools with a headteacher exhibiting high thrust had pupils exhibiting high academic performance. In majority (78.6%) of the schools with a headteacher exhibiting low thrust the pupils exhibited low academic performance.

- There was a significant relationship between teachers experience of espirit and pupils' academic performance.

- Majority (71.4%) of the schools with teachers experiencing high espirit had pupils' exhibiting high academic performance. In majority (73.6%) of the schools with teachers experiencing low espirit the pupils exhibited low academic performance.

- There was a significant relationship between school organizational climate and gender of a heateacher. Of all schools headed by a male 61.1% had organizational climate that approached an open climate. Of all the schools headed by a female 90.9% had organizational climate that approached an open climate. On the basis of the findings, conclusions, recommendations and some suggestions for further research were proposed.