INFLUENCE OF PRINCIPALS’ HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMPETENCY ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KWALE COUNTY, KENYA
Abstract
Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study is to assess the influence of principals’ human resource management competency on the academic performance in public secondary schools in Kwale County, Kenya.
Statement of the Problem: Principals' competency in human resource management significantly contributes to the performance of secondary schools. However, in Kwale County, despite principals having undergone professional competency training, academic performance still falls below expectations.
Methodology: This study employed a mixed methodology and utilized both descriptive survey and phenomenological research designs. The target population consisted of 4,327 respondents, including 92 principals, 1,564 members of the School Board of Management (BoM), 832 teachers, 10 Sub-county Directors of Education (SCDEs), and 1,834 student leaders. A sample of 365 respondents was determined using Yamane’s Formula. Stratified sampling was employed, creating five distinct strata based on the number of sub-counties in Kwale County. Within each sub-county, three principals and four members of the school BoM were purposively selected, while all 10 SCDEs were included. Furthermore, 40 teachers and 16 student leaders were randomly chosen from each sub-county, resulting in a final sample of 15 principals, 200 teachers, 60 BoM members, 10 SCDEs, and 80 student leaders. Qualitative data were thematically analyzed in accordance with the study objectives and presented narratively. Quantitative data were subjected to inferential analysis using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 23), with the results presented in tabular form.
Findings: The study found that academic performance in public secondary schools in Kwale County has been low and is attributed to principals’ inadequate human resource management competencies.
Recommendations: The study recommends that the Ministry of Education (MoE) continues to provide training and re-training opportunities for teachers.
Keywords: Principals’ human resource management competency, academic performance, public secondary schools.
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