Influence of Principals’ Involvement of Teachers in Decision Making on Teachers’ Job Satisfaction in Public Secondary Schools in Kakamega County, Kenya

Abstract

Involvement of teachers in decision making is key in the determination of the school success since teachers feel part and parcel of running the school motivating them to provide quality services to their students. This study investigated influence of principals' involving teachers' in decision making on teachers' job satisfaction in public secondary schools in Kakamega County, Kenya. The objective was: To determine the influence of principals' involving teachers in decision making on teachers' job satisfaction. The study was based on the Path Goal theory. The study targeted 324 public secondary schools which comprised of 324 principals and 1500 teachers and 12 TSC officials across 12 sub-counties in Kakamega County. Purposive sampling to select five sub counties that included Lurambi, Ikolomani, Shinyalu, Navakholo and Malava. A sample of 64 schools were selected using stratified sampling, purposive sampling for 64 principals and 5 TSC officials while Proportional simple random sampling was done to select 300 teachers. Questionnaires and interview guides were used to collect data. The Pearson Chi-square test (X 2 =79.826, p=0.005) was highly significant showing that principals' involved teachers in decision making that led to teachers' job satisfaction. This showed that there was significant relationship between principals' involvement of teachers in decision making and teachers' job satisfaction. It was then concluded that principals involving teachers in decision making influenced teacher job satisfaction. It was evident from the results that school administration involved the staff in decision making, team work was encouraged, teacher contribution was taken seriously and teacher taking instructions discussed seriously. It is then recommended that principals should divide and delegate tasks to teachers, train and involve them in all areas of decisions that affect them. To carry out these tasks effectively and efficiently, there is need to equip school principals with the appropriate knowledge, skills and attitude.