Resource Management Strategies and Learners Academic Performance in National Examinations in Public Primary Schools in Makindu District, Makueni County, Kenya

Abstract

The gist of the study was to examine the relationship between resource management strategies and learners academic performance in national examination in public primary schools in Makindu District, Makueni County, Kenya.  The study had two fold objectives namely to: i) analyze the physical and human resource management strategies that enhance learners’ academic performance; ii) assess the relationship between resource management and learners performance. The study was premised on Hunts (2007) theory on project management. A descriptive survey design was adopted.  A combination of Purposive  and simple random sampling techniques  were s used  to draw 25  head teachers, 200  teachers and 25  chairpersons of Parents Teachers Association(PTAs),  yielding  a total sample  of  250 respondents.  Interview schedules and questionnaires were used to collect data from chairpersons and headteachers/teachers, respectively. Quantitative data from questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistical generated by statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 20.  Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the hypotheses. Qualitative data from interviews were analyzed through interview transcription and thematic analysis and   used mainly to support the data generated through statistical analyses. The major findings were that resources were managed effectively in most schools using various strategies. In addition, there was a positive and significant correlation between the effectiveness of resource management strategies and learners’ academic performance in national examination. The overall result indicates that the human resource management techniques that focus sharply on the learner and teacher translate positively to pupils’ enhanced academic performance in national examinations The researcher recommended that schools managers should involve teachers and learner in decision making process and management strategies that enhance learners academic performance in national examinations in the study locale of Makindu District, Makueni County, Kenya.[281  words].

Keywords: Resources,  Management strategies,  Academic  performance,   National Examinations,  Public Primary Schools,   Makindu District, Makueni County, Kenya.