Management functions and academic performance in secondary schools in Makidye Division; A Case of Kibuli Secondary School

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to establish the influence of Management Functions academic performance in secondary schools in Makindye Division. The study was occasioned by the continued poor performance of students in the UCE national examinations at Kibuli secondary school. In particular, the study examined the influence of planning, organizing and controlling functions on the academic performance in secondary schools. Using a concurrent mixed method approach, the researcher followed a cross-sectional survey design. Using questionnaire surveys and an interview guide the researcher aimed at eliciting information from the top administrators and teachers on the influence of the Management Functions on the academic performance. Purposive sampling was used to draw 4 school administrators while 16 heads of department and 80 teachers were randomly selected to take part in the study. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA and regression analysis, while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The study established that the Classical Management Functions were very important in school management systems. Conclusion drawn was they are essential in the development of any educational programmes in both developing and developed countries including Uganda. The main findings revealed that the three Management Functions namely; planning, organizing and controlling function had a significant relationship with the academic performance. The following recommendations were made. First, School Administrators, Education Government agencies and partners in Education sector should promote capacity building for teachers through intensive and regular workshops or seminars, based on best practices for the professional, to improve their classroom management with a view of strengthening the quality of teaching and learning processes in secondary schools which translates into quality out put in terms of grades attained at UCE in the national examinations. Secondly School administration should organize and put in order of priorities and preferences the resources which are available and lastly there should be a functional monitoring and evaluation mechanism involving stakeholders in the school system such as classroom visits to ensure quality control and assurance from the system about the quality education given to the learners.