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Headteachers’ Staff Management Strategies and Pupils’ Academic Performance in Private Primary Schools in Nyeri and Murang’a Counties, Kenya
No full textHeadteachers’ Staff Management Strategies On Pupils’ Academic PerformanceHeadteachers use different staff management strategies to coordinate day to day running of schools and to
develop an environment that helps motivate pupils. These management strategies may be responsible for the
disparity in school performance. Studies on head teachers’staff management strategies have concentrated on
public schools, leaving out private schools. This study aims to examine the influence of headteachers’ staff
management strategies on pupils’ academic performance in private primary schools in Nyeri and Murang’a
Counties in Kenya. The study was guided by Bertalanffy and Weihrich's Systems theory which claims that an
organized enterprise does not exist in isolation but depends on the environment in which it’s established. The
study used a descriptive survey research design. The target population for the study is 2,630 head teachers and
teachers from 259 private primary schools in the Murang’a and the Nyeri Counties. The schools considered had
done KCPE for at least five years before the study period. The study employed Slovin’s formula to determine the
number of head teachers and teachers where 58 headteachers and 342 teachers were estimated to be
representative samples for respective groups. The research also selected 15 SCQASOs using purposive
sampling, while simple random sampling was adopted to select 158 schools from the two Counties. At the
school level, the researcher recruited a headteacher using a purposive approach and two or three teachers
using simple random sampling. A questionnaire was adopted to collect data from headteachers and teachers
and interview schedules from SCQASOs. The researcher used Cronbach’s alpha to compute the reliability of the
study tools and determined at 0.7; all variables had an alpha coefficient above 0.7, which implies an internal
consistency. The researcher also tested the content and the construct validity of the questionnaire by submitting
the questionnaire. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented
using charts and tables. Qualitative data were analysed using Atlas.it, coded while quantitative data were
analyzed in SPSS using descriptive and inferential statistics. The researcher used descriptive methods such as
frequency distribution and correlation coefficient. The study found head teachers’ staff management strategies
accounted for 83.9% of variations in private schools' performance in Nyeri and Murang’a Counties. The study
also found staff management had statistical significance influence on the performance of private primary
schools in Nyeri and Murang’a Counties at α=0.05
Determinants Influencing Provision of Financial Resources for Infrastructure in Early Years Education in Nyeri County, Kenya
No full textProvision of Financial Resources for Infrastructure in Early Years EducationThe Constitution of Kenya (2010) mandates the county governments to deliver quality pre-primary education through enhancing its management, infrastructure, human and financial resources. However, concerns abound on whether there is effective provision of financial resources to support early years education in Kenya and especially in Nyeri County. This study sought to assess the determinants influencing provision of financial resources for infrastructure in pre-primary education in Nyeri County in Kenya. The study was guided by the mixed methods research design. The target population for the study was 400 head teachers and 800 teachers in pre-primary schools in Nyeri county. Using the Borg and Gall formula of 10-30% criteria of selection of a sample, the lower limit was used which yielded a sample of 40 head teachers and 80 teachers. Data was collected using questionnaires from both the head teachers and pre-primary education teachers. The Cronbach‟s alpha was computed to ascertain for the reliability of instruments which yielded a coefficient correlation of 0.0818 which was higher than the 0.7 threshold of acceptance recommended by Kerlinger6. Data was analyzed using the descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. The findings of the study revealed that provision of financial resources greatly impacted on the quality of early years education offered in pre-schools in Nyeri county. From the findings of the study, it was recommended that there was need for mainstreaming the early years education in the Free Primary Education to benefit in the funding. The county government should increase budgetary allocation, establish clear financing frameworks, enhance resource mobilization strategies to source funds from other stakeholders
Crop Production in Irrigation Schemes in Turkana County, Kenya, Before and During COVID-19 (2018-2021)
No full textCrop Production in Irrigation Schemes in Turkana County, KenyaTurkana County, located in the northwest of Kenya, is an arid county and the poorest in the country, with a poverty index of 79.3% vs. 34.4% for the country. Due to its aridity, crop production is severely constrained and the County is a net importer of foodstuffs, except beef, mutton and camel meats. Crop production in the operating irrigation schemes depends on water from retreat flooding in March-May and any that is let into and retained in canals when the seasonal rivers are flowing. This project aimed to assess the influence of COVID-19 and other undetermined factors on crop production in 10 irrigation schemes along the Tirkwell River, over the period 2018-2021. The study administered a semi-structured questionnaire to 104 randomly selected farmers, who owned farm plots in the irrigation schemes. One-on-one interviews were held, due to the high level of illiteracy of the respondents. Twelve elders and administrators were the key informants. The study established that sorghum was the dominant crop grown in 9 out of the schemes, except in Kooliyoro-Kaaiteese, where maize was the main crop. Other crops in declining order by production volume included cowpeas, green grams, black grams and in Keekoroe-ngole, some green vegetables. The weight of the dominant crop and other crops varied significantly (p≤ 0.05) in the same irrigation scheme across the years of interest for this study, and also across the irrigation schemes over the production period. The results of the study showed that COVID-19 breakout did not affect crop production in the irrigation schemes studied. Farmer poverty level, lack of expert extension services, use of uncertified and reused seed, unreliable water supply, and regular droughts affected crop production. The most productive 3 schemes in descending order by crop production volumes were Nanyee, Napool andKeekoroe-ngole, while Naremit was the least productive. Crop production suffers from long-term sustainability in all the schemes for most of the above reasons. To improve crop production, the study recommends the provision of expert extension services, a steady water supply, annual donation of certified seeds, improvement in crop-care services, streamlining crop marketing services and the upgrade of governance and management capability in the irrigation schemes
Can Schools Make Our Society More Cohesive? A Case of Public Secondary Schools in Embu and Nairobi Counties, Kenya
No full textSchools and cohesivenessCohesion’ is a growing concern for policy makers and society and this raises questions for the role of schools. This mini-report asks how, and whether, schools should respond. We draw on academic and policy research, think-pieces and perspectives from the LKMco Big Debate 2016 ‘Can Schools Make Societies More Cohesive?’ and ask: 1. What is social cohesion? 2. What influences levels of social cohesion? 3. What are schools currently doing to improve social cohesion? 4. How can schools make society more cohesive? 5. What stands in the way of schools doing more? 6. What barriers do schools face in doing more
Library Staff and Knowledge Ambassadors at Work at Magutu Girls High School Sorting Out Books
No full textCommunity outreach programm
Gender Differences in Secondary School Teacher Counsellors Perception of Ethical Standards in Counselling in Kiambu County, Kenya
No full textGender Differences in Secondary School Teacher Counsellors Perception of Ethical StandardsEthical standards are at the core of counselling practice and are aimed at ensuring the welfare of the client and
the counsellor are safeguarded. Counselling, like any other profession is governed by ethical standards and
unless it’s provided on ethical basis, it may cease to serve its intended purpose. Despite the critical role of ethical
standards in a counselling relationship, the extent to which a counsellor will adhere to these standards may be
dependent on the way he/she perceives these standards. This study presumed that perception of ethical standards
may be contingent on ones gender. This is the assumption that motivated this study with a desire to validate
whether gender influences perceptions of ethical standards among teacher counsellors in secondary schools in
Kiambu County, Kenya. The study was guided by the moral development theory and adopted the mixed method
research design. The target population was the 281 heads of guidance and counselling departments of secondary
schools in Kiambu County and the five officials of guidance and counselling association in the county. The
sample was 170 participants who comprised 165 heads of guidance and counselling departments and five
officials of the guidance and counselling association in the County. The study utilized stratified and purposeful
sampling methods. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires and focused group discussion.
The instruments were validated by subjecting them to expert’s scrutiny. The instrument’s reliability coefficient
was 0.80 which was accepted. Data accruing from the focus group discussion was transcribed for ease of
analysis while responses to the questionnaire were analysed through independent sample test. Five areas were
focused by the study. These included ethical standards relating to counsellor-client relationship, counsellor
integrity, clients informed consent, clients confidentiality and putting clients first. Accruing findings
demonstrated that teacher counsellor’s had an unfavourable perception of ethical standards (mean =2.84). and
that gender had a statistically significant influence on the perception of ethical standards among teacher
counsellor’s in secondary schools in Kiambu County, Kenya (p= 0.000, t= -2.276). The study recommends that
gender be an important factor for guiding the appointment of teacher counsellor’s and capacity building targeting
male counsellors be initiated. Additionally, the study recommends that further research be carried out to establish
whether there will be gender differences in perception of ethical standards and psychological gender. The study
contributes to the body of knowledge as it provides a model of predicting the perception of ethical standards
given the gender of teacher counsellors
Anthropogenic activities affect forest structure and arthropod abundance in a Kenyan biodiversity hotspot
No full textAnthropogenic activities affect forest structure and arthropod abundanceLand-use change remains the main threat to tropical forests and their dependent fauna and flora, and degradation of existing forest remnants will further accelerate species loss. Forest degradation may result directly from human forest use or through spatial effects of land-use change. Understanding the drivers of forest degradation and its effects on biodiversity is pivotal for formulating impactful forest management and monitoring protocols, but such knowledge is lacking for many biodiversity hotspots, such as the Taita Hills in southeast Kenya. Here we first quantify effects of social factors (human activity and presence) at plot and landscape level, forest management (gazetted vs. non-gazetted) and spatial factors (fragment size and distance to forest edge) on the vegetation structure of indigenous Taita forest fragments. Next, we quantify effects of degraded vegetation structure on arthropod abundance and diversity. We show that human presence and activity at both the plot and landscape level explain variation in vegetation structure. We particularly provide evidence that despite a national ban on cutting of indigenous trees, poaching of pole-sized trees for subsistence use may be simplifying vegetation structure, with the strongest effects in edge-dominated, small forest fragments. Furthermore, we found support for a positive effect of vegetation structure on arthropod abundance, although the effect of daily maximum temperature and yearly variation was more pronounced. Maintenance of multi-layered forest vegetation in addition to reforestation maybe a key to conservation of the endangered and endemic fauna of the Taita Hills
Information Management and Filing
No full textInformation Management and Filing Prepared for Secretaries/Clerical Officer
ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP, AFFECTIVE COMMITMENT AND INDUSTRIAL HARMONY IN KENYAS’ DEVOLVED PUBLIC HEALTH SECTOR
Full text linkRESEARCH THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE
CONFERMENT OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT OF KARATINA UNIVERSITYA harmonious workplace that guarantees satisfaction of workers and employers’ aspirations is
essential for enhanced services provision in Kenya’s devolved public health sector. Since the
devolution of healthcare services in 2013, the devolved public health sector has been affected by
frequent and often localized health workers’ industrial actions. These industrial actions have an effect
not only on the citizens well-being but also affects the economic growth of the country. The general
objective of this study was to determine the influence of adaptive leadership on industrial harmony
mediated by affective commitment in Kenya’s devolved public health sector. The specific objectives
of the study were; to determine the influence of collaborative stakeholder engagement, employees’
involvement in decision making, continuous organizational learning and leaders’ relational
authenticity on industrial harmony and to examine the mediating influence of affective commitment
on the relationship between adaptive leadership and industrial harmony in the Kenya’s devolved
public health sector. The study was guided by three theories namely; Attitudinal Commitment
Theory, Experiential Learning Theory and Social Exchange Theory. To achieve these objectives, the
study used pragmatic research paradigm. The study research design was concurrent mixed methods
research methodology. The target population for this study was 3,355 health workers in level 5
County referral hospitals, in the Central Economic Regional Bloc (CEREB). The study selected 351
respondents using stratified random sampling. In addition, 10 Medical Superintendents (MS), 10
Secretary Generals from Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) and Kenya
National Union of Nurses (KNUN) were selected for participation in the study through purposive
sampling. The research instrument was tested for validity using content validity, criterion validity
and construct validity and for reliability, using Cronbach alpha coefficient. The pilot study was
carried out at Karatina Level 4 Hospital in Nyeri County as the cadre of staff employed in level 4
hospitals are similar and with almost similar facilities as those of level 5 hospitals. Data analysis
involved both qualitative and quantitative analysis. Qualitative data collected through the interview
guide was analyzed using content analysis technique. Quantitative data collected using the
questionnaire was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics
comprised means and standard deviation while inferential statistics comprised simple linear
regression and multiple regression analysis. The study established that collaborative stakeholder
engagement had a positive and significant influence on industrial harmony (β=1.255, p-value=.000);
that employee involvement in decision making had a positive and significant influence on industrial
harmony (β=.939, p-value=.000); that continuous organizational learning had a positive and
significant influence on industrial harmony (β=1.093, p-value=.000); that leaders’ relational
authenticity had a positive and significant influence on industrial harmony (β=.703, p-value=.000).
Collaborative stakeholder engagement had the highest influence explaining 18.5% of industrial
harmony. It was followed by continuous organizational learning at 14%, employee involvement in
decision making at 10.3% and finally leaders’ relational authenticity at 5.8%. Affective commitment
was found to have a positive and significant mediating influence on the relationship between adaptive
leadership and industrial harmony (β=.141, p-value=0.018). The study concluded that collaborative
stakeholders’ engagement, employee’s involvement in decision making, continuous organizational
learning, leaders’ relational authenticity and affective commitment enhanced industrial harmony in
the Kenya’s devolved public health sector. The study recommends the expansion of the workplace
stakeholders engagement systems, strengthening of suggestion schemes and brainstorming sessions
and that more efforts be put in creating, retaining and transferring knowledge within the sector. It
further recommends setting up of high moral and ethical standards among managers and that
employees should be part and parcel of the team(s) that develop strategic plans and policies in the
sector so as to encourage co-ownership of sector goals and objectives. This research contributes to
the body of knowledge by providing a model of determining the level of industrial harmony given
the influence of affective commitment and adaptive leadership