Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship that existed between principals’ computer application skills and computer use in administration of public secondary schools in Kiambu County. Computer use in schools administration is a contemporary issue in the improvement of quality leadership in schools. The study was triggered by the need for effective leadership in schools which would lead to improved academic performance in Kiambu County.Methodology: The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The target population for this study was all the 307 principals of public secondary schools in Kiambu County. The study sample comprised of 205 principals which translated to 67% of the target population. Simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used in the selection of the respondents. A questionnaire was used for data collection. Relationship between the two variables under study was established by use of spearman rho. Pearson’s Chi- square test of independence with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to test the null hypotheses. Findings: The study found out that principals’ possession of computer skills influenced the use of computers among school principals. Unique contribution to the theory, practice and policy: The study recommended provision of computer skill courses relevant to administration work, and ICT technical support to advise school principals on usage and maintenance of computers and review of both teacher preparation and staff development programs to ensure that universities and Teacher Training Colleges provide pre-service and in-service training programs to enable school principals to successfully use computers carrying out administrative tasks. The study further recommended that the government should develop a policy framework for training all educators/education officers on computers and ICT applications in Schools.
Highlights
1.1 Background of the StudyComputer use in school administration has been a focus of many policy initiatives by governments worldwide over the years
This study investigated the effect of principals‟ possession of computer application skills on computer use in school administration in Kiambu County which earlier studies had not addressed
There was a significant relationship between principal‟s possession of computer skills and use of computers in the administration of public secondary schools
Summary
1.1 Background of the StudyComputer use in school administration has been a focus of many policy initiatives by governments worldwide over the years. Carmen (2013) notes that school administration needs computers to keep the records of all the activities in school, examination results, schedules of all departments, meetings and minutes, teacher-parent conferences and many others tasks. The use of computers can increase school efficiency and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy in school administration (Carmen 2013). Alex (2003) argues that without computers, schools administrators will have to monitor all the records of the school activities by entering the details manually on the books and records of the schools. The role of the principal in supporting technology integration is very important, no study had been carried out in Kiambu County to establish the factors that influence the use of computers by school principals
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