Effectiveness Of Secondary School Principals In Management Of Human Resources: A Case Of Mathioya District, Murang’a County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of secondary school principals in the management of human resources in Mathioya District, Murang’a County. The objectives of the study were to determine the effectiveness of principals in recruitment, selection, induction, development and motivation of staff in public secondary schools as perceived by teachers and the principals; to determine the challenges faced by principals in their role of managing human resources; to propose some strategies that could be used by Secondary School Principals for them to be effective in their management of staff in schools. A descriptive survey research design was used to carry out the study. The population of the study was 29 principals and 174 heads of departments in public secondary school in Murang’a County, Mathioya Sub County. The respondents were selected through a purposive sampling. 15 schools were selected from which 15 principals and 30 teachers were involved in the research. Data was collected using questionnaires with both closed and open-ended questions. The data collected were coded manually and descriptive statistics used to interpret quantitative information. Data was presented in graphs and tables. From the study findings, principals as the heads of the school are to execute the role of human resource managers, which include human resource planning, recruitment and selection, induction of staff, training and development and motivation of staff. The main challenge facing principals in human resource management was inadequate finances. The researcher proposes that principals should plan holding weekly dialogues; briefs and open forums with staff to encourage interpersonal relationships. In addition, they should establish a PTA kitty for staff motivation, advise on adequate staffing to avoid overload on staff as well as organize motivational trips for teachers every year and avail copies of staff code of ethics and regular consultation between the principals and the staff.