The effectiveness of school management strategies in the provision of quality and holistic education in church sponsored schools : a case of Kahuro area of Murang'a County
Date
2013
Authors
Kuria, Fr. Willian Kamau
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
The main purpose of this research was to find out the effectiveness of strategies employed by
managers of the church sponsored schools in the provision of quality and holistic education
in rural areas, specifically in Kahuro area of Murang'a County. Simple random and
purposive sampling techniques were used for data collection. The simple random sampling
procedures were used to arrive at the sample of the schools and teachers, while purposive
sampling was used to select the head teachers. Questionnaires were used to collect data from
teachers; the interview schedule was used with the head teachers. Quantitative data was
coded and analyzed using SPSS, version 17.5 for Windows and presented in frequencies and
percentages in tables and graphs. The qualitative data was analyzed and categorized in
themes in accordance with research objectives and was reported in a narrative form. The
study found out that: The leadership of the church sponsored schools in Kahuro area of
Murang'a County perceives holistic and quality education as that which builds the learner,
intellectually, socially as well as spiritually by imparting the learners with widespread
knowledge, Christian values, and skills and capabilities to excel in life; head teachers in
church sponsored schools in Kahuro enhance quality and holistic education by provision of
sufficient learning materials, timely payment of staff salaries, and offering of moral support
to both learners and staff; strategies employed by head teachers in Kahuro to ensure effective
implementation of holistic education are effective in that they have improved academic
performance, discipline, and enrollment. This was found to be facilitated by increased pupils'
retention, rich learning environment, and improved communication. The study recommended
that: Teachers in church sponsored schools in Kahuro area should offer unlimited support to
each and every strategy initiated by the school management in church sponsored schools;
Head teachers in Kahuro area should adopt a positive perception of church's management
initiatives in the schools; the government on the other hand should get to recognize the
various ways in which the church has contributed to improvement of primary education
standards and support these strategies; and now that the government is offering quite a
number of incentives in terms of making education affordable and accessible through free
primary education(FPE) program, the church should look for other ways of complimenting
these efforts for it to remain relevant and be seen to be doing something especially in the
provision of holistic education; not to be sponsors by name.
Description
A Research dissertation in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the award of a Masters Degree in Science, Educational Management.
Keywords
School management, Management, Education, Kahuro, Murang'a County