Management strategies for improving academic performance in Secondary education: a survey of secondary schools in Masaba North, Nyamira County, Kenya

Abstract

The role of various stakeholders is very pertinent in Improving KCSE performance. The main objective of this study was to identify management strategies to improve academic performance in secondary schools in Kenya. The specific objectives were to determine administrative strategies used to improve academic performance, establish classroom strategies used to improve academic performance, investigate student specifics strategies used to improve academic performance and investigate school management strategies used to improve academic performance. The study was based on organizational theory by Getzels, and Guba (1957). Descriptive survey research design was used . The target population was 26 principals, 26 B.OM (chairmen), 254 teachers and 832 form three students. Principals and BOM chairpersons were purposively selected while 30% of teachers and students were selected through simple random sampling. Questionnaires and observations were used to collect data. Validity was ascertained through expert opinion while reliability was obtained through piloting and use of Pearson Correlation Coefficient. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The analyzed data revealed that majority of the schools in Masaba North Sub-County had remedial teaching which was used to boost academic performance of students especially the syllabus completion. In addition majority (66.7%) of the schools had fairly adequate staff and there were inadequate number of text books for students and this could negatively affect the academic performance of students. Further, teachers prepared their lesson plans on termly basis therefore positively influencing the students’ academic achievement. Similarly, majority of the student leaders in secondary schools were elected by students through voting . In addition, majority of the students in secondary schools always went for motivational tours boosting their academic performance . Further, majority (81.8%) of the BOM chairpersons were fairly satisfied with their schools’ performance . Similarly, majority (59.1%) of the BOM chairperson’s oftenly met with teachers to discuss issues affecting their performance in class. It was therefore recommended that there was need for secondary school principals to address the adequacy of teaching and learning resources. In addition, there was need for teachers to evaluate students on regular basis in order to understand students needs and improve their academic standards. Further, there is need for students to be motivated through tours, contests or seminars as these improve students’ academic achievements. The knowledge from the study would help principals and teachers to understand their students better given that teachers need to be scholars of their students learning. The knowledge was useful to not only schools under study but also to other secondary schools in Kenya as an effort was made by teachers, head teacher and the ministry of education officials to apply the strategies implored to improve KCSE results.