Influence of Managerial Skills on Performance of Departmental Heads in Public Secondary Schools: A Survey of KISII Central Sub-County

Abstract

Schools are in consistent pressure to ensure harmonious system among the employees to achieve higher academic performance. The responsibilities for achieving superior performance are mostly entrusted with the HODs by the school principals through delegation of tasks and authority to make decisions. However, HODs in many schools often lacked the competency necessary for achieving performance as reflected in National examination results. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of managerial skills on the performance of HODs in public secondary schools a survey of Kisii central sub-county, Kisii County with the aim of determining the extent to which leadership skills; conceptual skills, human skills and technical skills affect performance of HODs. The target population was all HODs, principals and 10 teachers sampled randomly. The study adopted a survey design in which data was collected by use of questionnaires with questions on a 5 likert-scale and interview schedules. Completed questionnaires were coded and classified and the data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics i.e weighted mean and frequency and inferential statistics mainly ANOVA. Findings established that possession of managerial skills by HODs improved their performance and it formed a basis for further research in linking determing how to link IT with managerial skills to enhance performance of HODs in secondary schools.