Effects of the Principals’ Decision Making in the Management of Private Secondary Schools in Kisumu District, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find out the level of high school principals decision making in the management of sponsored schools. Objective of the article was to determine the effectiveness of principals’ decision making in the management of church sponsored secondary schools in Kisumu District, Kenya. The research question was; how does the principals’ decision making affect the management of private secondary schools Kisumu District, Kenya? The study design was survey. The study population included all the principals, in the 21 private high schools. Purposive sampling was employed in the study. Data was collected by use of interview schedule and questionnaires. Four of the schools were used in pilot study to act as pre-test to the instruments of data collection to ensure their reliability. Face validity of the instruments was determined by three experts in the department of Educational Management and Policy Studies of Moi University. Quantitative data was analyzed by use of descriptive statistics in form of frequency counts, percentages. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 18) software was used for data analysis. Findings revealed that principals were involved in decision making but most of their contributions were controlled by the sponsors. It was recommended that the principals should be more empowered in decision making so as to assist the BOG and sponsors effectively. It was also recommended that the sponsors, PTA and BOG should be trained in areas of high schools financial management, budgeting, procurement and security so enable them effectively take part in the smooth running and control of the schools.