Factors Affecting Implementation of Performance Appraisal in Public Secondary Schools in Kenya: A Survey of Kirinyaga Central Sub County

The study sought to determine the factors affecting the implementation of performance appraisal in selected public secondary schools at Kirinyaga Central Sub County in Kenya. The study covered aspects of key result areas and resources. The study was a survey covering a stratified sample of 150 respondents drawn from 450 employees of the selected schools in Kirinyaga Central Sub County. Data collection in this study was through giving questionnaires to principals, deputy principals as well as other teachers in the 15 schools which were sampled from the 35 schools in the sub county. Data collected through self-administered questionnaire was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Data collected was coded and entered into the computer for data analysis using the SPSS version 21. The study achieved a response rate of 92 % which was excellent in achieving accurate results. The researcher then analyzed the data by calculating the correlation coefficients of each independent variable with the dependent variable. Key result areas had a strong and positive correlation with implementation of performance appraisal with correlation coefficient of 0.892. Similarly resources also had a strong and positive correlation with implementation of performance appraisal with correlation coefficient of 0.934. The analyzed results further showed that the two variables key result areas, and resources were statistically significant in influencing teachers productivity improvement but resources had a stronger relationship with implementation of performance appraisal. It was then concluded that the implementation of performance appraisal in public secondary schools in Kenya has been affected by lack of training of the appraisers and some of the recommendations are that the government should provide resources for implementation, all teachers should be trained on performance appraisal assessment and that the teachers service commission of Kenya should give teachers well defined job descriptions especially on issues of disciplining of students. Furthermore the study recommends that secondary schools in Kenya and specifically Kirinyaga Central Sub County should evaluate all the avenues through which they can increase resources. These resources would help teachers acquire better working tools which will help them achieve their targets.