Headteachers’ selected management practices and the influence on students’ performance in national examinations in private secondary schools in Heliwa District, Somalia
Loading...
Date
2023-05
Authors
Mohamed, Abdullahi Abdirahman
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta university
Abstract
Education is very important in an increasingly globalised and technological world, as such, academic performance of learners in schools is critical. However, studies carried out in Somalia have shown that private secondary schools have persistently recorded dismal performance in national examinations. Studies have been carried out in Somalia to establish factors contributing to the persistent poor school performance. Further, there is paucity of empirical literature on how school performance is affected by head teachers’ management practices. Therefore, this research delved to fill the gap by investigating how performance of learners in academics is being influenced by management practices of head teachers in private secondary schools in Heliwa district, Somalia. The study was guided by four objectives. These are; To determine whether head teachers’ competence in management of teaching-learning resources influences students’ academic performance, to establish whether head teachers’ competence in human resource management influences students’ academic performance, to establish whether head teachers’ competence in curriculum supervision influences academic performance and to determine whether head teachers’ financial management skills influences students’ academic performance. The study is anchored on the Role Theory advanced by Gatzels and Egon (1975). Descriptive survey design was applied. The study targeted a population of 214 from the entire 26 secondary schools operating in Heliwa district in Mogadishu city in Somalia. Purposive and systematic random sampling method was applied to sample 136 participants comprising of 128 teachers and 8 head teachers. A questionnaire was used for primary data collection. Review of the school’s records as well as nonparticipant observation was also done to triangulate the data obtained from the questionnaires. The researcher ascertained that the questionnaire was reliable using test-retest method from which a correlation coefficient of 0.872 was obtained. Further the supervisor who is the subject expert ensured validity of the tools. Frequencies and percentages were used to analyze the quantitative data; the process was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Analysis of qualitative data was done thematically along on emerging themes, which were discussed under the study objectives. The study established that head teachers’ competence in managing teaching-learning resources had a significant influence (p=0.002<0.05) on students’ academic performance. In addition, the study established that head teachers’ competence in managing human resource significantly influenced (P=0.001< 0.05) the academic performance of students. Further, it was established that head teachers’ competence in curriculum supervision influenced (P=0.001<0.05) academic performance of students. Finally, it was established that head teachers’ financial management skills influenced (P-value=0.000< 0.05) academic performance of learners. The study concluded that head teachers’ management practices influenced academic performance of learners. Based on the findings, the study recommends that the Ministry of Education and school Directors in Somalia should empower the head teachers with knowledge and skills on good management practices through professional and in-service training
Description
A research project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of masters of education (educational administration) in the school of education and lifelong learning of Kenyatta University, May 2023
Keywords
Headteachers’, management practices, performance, national examinations, private secondary schools, Heliwa District, Somalia