Effects of Management on Teachers Turnover in Private Secondary Schools in Oyugis Township, Rachuonyo South District, Kenya

Abstract

Managementis an important phenomenon that defines the success or failure of a school as an institution. Poor management in private secondary schools accelerates teacher turnover and thereforereduces the quality of service delivery or learning. However, tto adequate research or documentationhas been done on management and how it affects teacher turnover in private secondaryschools. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of management onteacherturnover in private secondary schools in Oyugis Township, Rachuonyo South District. The specific objectives will be to analyse management practices in private secondary schools; determinethe factors which make teachers remain in service and factors that make them leave service in private secondary schools. The study was conducted through survey design and includedall the eight private secondary schools in Oyugis Township. The study population was 98 teachers, 8 principals and 8 chairpersons of Boards of Governors. A sample size of 66 teacherswas randomly selected among the teachers while all the head teachers, officials from the Ministry of Education and chairpersons of Board of Governors were purposively selected. Primarydata was collected through questionnaires, observation and interviews. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive Statistics and results presented in form of charts, tables and graphs.Qualitative data were summarized into relevant themes and presented in a narrative form. The study established that 27% of the respondents cited poor management as the major cause of high teacher turnover because of top-down management strategy. It was also established that 26% of teachers leave service in private secondary schools because of the need to get better payingjob with security as in public schools. Some teachers leave service in order to go for furtherstudies. The study further established that the private schools employ even old and retired . teachersand form four graduates which are 2% and 81%,respectively of the teaching force. The overall effect is poor performance and lack of morale among teachers and students. The study recommendsthat school management should introduce a system of rewarding teachers for better performance. It is also recommended that the government should assist teachers in employing qualified teachers in private secondary schools and develop policy framework for private secondary school management. The management should also encourage participatory management. Areas for further study are recommended and they include; impacts of national education policies in the management of private secondary schools and causes of poor management in private secondary schools