Assessments of Principals’ Communication Procedures on Female Teachers’ Progression to Management Positions of Public Secondary Schools: Case Study of Kajiado County, Kenya

Abstract

Communication is a very important tool in the success of Educational Institutions. The study examined the influence of principals’ communication procedures on Female Teachers’ progression to Management Positions of Public Secondary Schools in Kajiado County, Kenya. The study assessed how communication on availability of management positions influence the number of Female Teachers’ Progression into Management of public secondary schools in Kajiado County, Kenya. The study was guided by Theories of Human Communication. Data was collected using questionnaires administered to 419 public secondary school teachers holding management positions of Heads of departments, senior teachers, deputy and principals managing public secondary schools. Interview schedule was used to collect data from the five TSC sub-county directors of education in Kajiado County. Stratified sampling technique was used in sampling 205 public secondary school teachers in management positions in Kajiado County while 4 TSC Sub-county directors of Education were purposively sampled. The qualitative data collected from the interviews was analyzed using content analysis, presented in a narrative form and the findings of quantitative data were presented by use of tables and charts. The study used Pearsons correlation analysis to test if there is a linear association between independent variables and the dependent variable where null hypothesis was tested. The data analysis software used was statistical package for social sciences. The study assessed on the principals communication procedures on female teachers’ progression into management of public secondary schools. Some of the communication procedures used included circulars, staff briefs by principals, use of newspapers, reports from higher education offices and recreation facilities interactions. From the study, it was established that staff briefs by principals was the main channel of communication to teachers which updates them on when to prepare for promotional interviews which are often delayed before teachers get the invitations. The study suggested that principals should communicate the available management vacancies to female teachers in good time so that the teachers can prepare adequately for the promotional interviews. Through personal emails and direct messages, principals should directly communicate the available management vacancies to the teachers other than waiting for forums like staff briefs which may take long especially when the principals are away on other school activities.