Role of the Headteacher in Academic Achievement in Secondary Schools in Vihiga District, Kenya

Abstract

The headteachers’ role is to promote academic performance. The success of what is done in the School is attributed to the head teacher. He or she is the pivot around which many aspects of the school revolve, being the person in charge of every detail of running the school, be it academic or administrative. Schools can make a difference to student achievement and the headteachers’ leadership is one factor determining that success. It is therefore important that the performance of a school is appraised against the performance of the person who leads it. The purpose of the study was to investigate the role of the headteacher in academic achievement in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examinations in Vihiga district in Western province. The study was occasioned by the continued poor performance by most secondary schools in Vihiga district. The findings of the study showed that headteachers used quality improvement measures, teamwork and ensured that the staff was well established as organizational skills that influenced academic achievement. The head teachers were also involved in academic activities by observing and checking the students’ and teachers ‘work, monitoring students’ discipline and helping in eradicating cheating in examinations.