Factors Influencing Principals’ Performance Of Administrative Duties In Public Day Secondary Schools In Mwingi East Sub -County, Kenya.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing principals‘

performance of administrative duties in public day secondary schools in Mwingi East Sub -

County, Kitui County, Kenya. Four research objectives guided the study. The objectives

sought to establish the influence of finances, human resources, infrastructure and

community around the school on principals‘ performance of administrative duties in public

day secondary schools in Mwingi East Sub -County. The study adopted descriptive research

survey design. The target population was 20 principals. The sample size was 20 respondents.

Data was collected using questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings

revealed that funds were not available. There was delay in disbursement. School did not have

adequate facilities due to inadequate funds. Parents were not consistent in paying the required

levies. It was also revealed that schools did not have adequate teachers and other support staff

which hindered the running of the school. It was also revealed that school did not have

adequate classrooms, well-equipped laboratories, text books and stationery and chairs and

desks for students. It was lastly revealed that parents were not able to support the school

financially and that the schools did not receive adequate support from the community. Based

on the findings of the study, the researcher concluded that finances inf luenced principals‘

performance of administrative duties. Financial factors such as inadequate finances, delay in

disbursement of funds, inadequate facilities due to inadequate funds, parents‘ poor payment

of fees affected the principals in the running of schools. When the principals do not have the

finances, they are not able to run the schools effectively. The study also concluded that the

principals were not in a position to hire enough staff, both the teaching and non -teaching. It

was also difficult for the schools to get staff. Inadequate of human resource is a hindrance to

principal‘s performance of administrative tasks. The study also concluded that infrastructure

influenced principals‘ performance of administrative duties. Inadequate physical resources

which include laboratories, libraries, classrooms and a host of other physical infrastructure

and material resources that include textbooks, charts, maps among others affecting the

running of schools by the principals affect how the principals run schools. The inadequacy of

the resources affected principals‘ performance of administrative duties. The study further

concluded that the community around the school affect principals‘ performance of

administrative duties. The study recommended that the government should avail adequate

funds in time for the running of schools. The Ministry of Education in conjunction with the

TSC should avail adequate funds for recruitment and selection of staff. The school

administrators to take up the responsibility of creating a mutual understanding and

partnership between schools and the community which would help teachers, parents and all

community members to identify areas in which they can work together for the benefit of the

students. The researcher suggested that a study on how principals‘ involvement of BOM in

school management affects their performance of their administrative duties should be

conducted. It was also suggested that a study on how principals‘ involvement of teachers in

school management affects their performance of their administrative tasks should be

conducted. Lastly a study on how principals‘ personal characteristics influence performance

of administrative tasks should be conducted.