Gender and School Size: Do they Influence Principals Inclusion of Teachers in School Organization Management?

Name of Author : John Kanjogu Kiumi

Abstract: Teacher participation in school organization management is a critical determinant of the extent to which a school will realize the desired students learning outcomes .However , studies done in the recent past in Kenya indicates that most principals tend to sideline teachers in school management activities .The studies, nonetheless have not demonstrated the extent to which this exclusivity tendency could be linked to principals gender and school – size .This is what informed the study in which four aspects of school management were focused: curriculum implementation ,school budgeting, formulation of school policies and co -curricular activities. Data were collected from 169 public secondary school teachers in Lari Sub County , Kenya using a self-delivered five - point likert scale questionnaire .The data were analyzed through arithmetic mean , t-test and one-way ANOVA. The findings revealed that level of teacher involvement in the four areas of school management was on the whole low. Although female principals were more inclusive than their male counterparts , the difference was not statistically significant( p>.05) .Level of teacher involvement, however increased towards big schools (p<.05) . These findings have important implications for professionalization of school management. Specifically , the entities in charge of capacitation of school managers in Kenya need to focus more on male principals and principals heading small schools with a view to enhancing their willingness and capacity to apply an inclusive school management style.

Keywords : Principals Gender, School – size, Teacher Involvement, School Management, Kenya

DOI :