Monitoring and control skills of heads of science department and academic performance in sciences in public secondary schools in Nandi county Kenya

Abstract

This paper looks at the monitoring and control skills of Heads of Department (HODs) of science and its influence on academic performance by students in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Subjects. The HODs have been mandated to provide instructional guidance through regular monitoring, assessment and evaluation of science teaching subjects in their secondary schools. However, recent performances in science subjects (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) in KCSE in public secondary schools in Nandi County have been below average. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to determine the influence of science HODs monitoring and control skills towards academic performance of students in science subject. The study used mixed method research methodology which combined qualitative and quantitative data. The area of study was all public secondary schools in Nandi County. Target population consisted of 231 HODs of science, 231 principals and 693 science subject teachers. The study adopted a mixed method research design. A sample size of 23 principals, 128 HODS of science and 247 science teachers were selected through stratified random sampling technique. Data was collected using questionnaires (for HODs and teachers) and interview guide (for principals). The reliability values for HODs was 0.795 and science teachers 0.775 which were above the threshold of R=0.7. Analysis of data was performed using quantitative and qualitative methods. Results of the analysis revealed that HODs organising regular departmental meetings to review performance and take corrective action where possible was the main monitoring and control used. On the average, the study discovered that HODs of science planed with science teachers evaluation and assessment activities in their schools (M=3.38 and SD=1.25). The paper concludes that there existed a significant positive influence (p<0.05) between HODs of Science monitoring and control skills and academic performance of students in science subjects in selected public secondary schools in Nandi County, Kenya. It was recommended that Teachers Service Commission needs to improve staffing levels in public secondary schools especially in science subjects to in order provide ample time for HODs to do their regular monitoring and control activities of science subjects’ curriculum implementation in classrooms and among their departmental teachers.