Challenges facing head teachers in management of public primary schools in mabasa South sub county Kisii county, Kenya

Abstract

The proposed study aimed at establishing the challenges facing head teachers in managing public primary schools in Masaba South Sub- County, Kisii County, Kenya. The research objectives sought to establish the financial challenges, examine the teaching and learning resources challenges and assess pupils discipline management challenges facing the head teachers in public primary school in Masaba Sub-County, Kisii County, Kenya. The study was premised on classical Administrative Management theory by Henri Fayol and adopted descriptive survey research design. Further, it targeted all the 80 public primary schools in Masaba Sub County and sampled 66 head teachers, 66 senior teachers and 20 PTA chairpersons. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected using, interview schedules and questionnaires. The study administered the questionnaires to 66 school head teachers and 66 senior teachers, while 20 PTA chairpersons were interviewed for qualitative data. The study found that 58% of the head teachers had never participated in workshops and seminars to be inducted into the new job upon their appointment as school administrations. Financial provision to the schools in form of CDF grants, free primary education capitation and alternative source of funds from well-wishers and parents were never enough for the school head teachers to run the school and effectively managed the pupils. School heads faced lack of adequate learning facilities which was critical for pupils’ management in learning and that parents had a negative attitude of supporting school programs that require resources. Pupils committed various cases of indiscipline, majorly fighting, stealing, and sneaking out of school and failure to do the assignments. The study recommends that MOE should allocate adequate resources to schools, the teachers’ service commission TSC should also train more teacher counselors in schools and that School Heads and The Boards of Management should employ policies that would promote counseling.