Influence of Feedback Provision on Teachers’ Attitude towards Performance Appraisal in Public Primary Schools in Homa-Bay Sub County, Kenya

Abstract

This study examined the influence of feedback provision on teachers’ attitudes towards performance appraisal in public primary schools in Homa-Bay Sub- County, Kenya. The appraisal of teachers’ performance in public schools in Kenya was initiated by the Teachers Service Commission in 2016. However, the initiative received resistance from the teachers’ unions rendering its implementation to be suspended temporarily until May 2016. Teachers’ performance evaluation guides improvement of teaching skills, to recognize and reinforce teaching excellence, to help teachers focus on student outcomes, and to plan in service education activities. Even so, there is a dearth of information regarding the factors influencing public primary school teachers’ attitudes towards performance appraisal in Homa-Bay Sub County. Therefore, the study specifically sought to: determine the influence of feedback provision on teachers’ attitudes towards performance appraisal in public primary schools in Homa-Bay Sub-County. The study was guided by goal setting theory. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The target population comprised of 1 CSO 57 head teachers and 548 teachers from 57 public primary schools. A sample size of 26 head teachers and 133 teachers were selected for inclusion in the study through simple random sampling. Therefore, a total of 160 respondents took part in the study. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data from one CSO, 26 head teachers and 133 teachers. Structured and semi- structured interviews were conducted through interview guides. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics through SPSS and results presented in tables, while the qualitative data was analyzed thematically. The study revealed that both head teachers and teachers strongly agreed that feedback is only given to them when they ask. This is seen in the highest mean rating of 4.48. The second which was agreed by most head teachers and teachers was that feedback has led to negative attitude towards performance appraisal. This was evidenced by the overall mean rate of 4.08.