Political Leaders’ Involvement and School Performance in Selected Secondary Schools of Bukedea District

Abstract

The study examined political leaders’ involvement and school performance in selected secondary school in Bukedea District. The study adopted a quantitative approach. The study objectives were as follows, to establish the influence of political leaders on infrastructure provision in selected secondary schools of Bukedea District, to examine the influence of political leaders on Students’ dropout in selected secondary schools in Bukedea District and to determine the influence of political leaders on authentic assessment in selected secondary schools in Bukedea District. The study population was 650 respondents out of which a sample 248 was selected. The key informants in the study included members of the LC1 committee, members of LC3 committee, members of LC5 committee, MPs, members of BOG committee and members of PTA committee. The sampling technique used include simple random for Head teachers and members of LC1 committee and purposive technique for members of LC3, Members of LC5, MPs, Members of BOG Committee and Members of PTA Committee. After data collection analysis and presentation. it was established that monitoring of school activities and programs on the nature of political leaders’ involvement makes a school an entrepreneurial place where the school is willing to take risks, the leadership is considered to ensure representation mentoring, facilitating and nurturing of school staff members in their way of doing duties to ensure results orientated out comes focused by the staff. The study further concluded that the style of political leaders’ involvement and school performance is characterized by monitoring of school activities marketing the school, contribution funds in schools and advocating for government support while school performance is characterized by infrastructure development, authentic assessment and Students’ dropout. It was further noted that political leader’s involvement and school performance had positive and moderate relationship. On establishing the relationship between political leaders’ involvement and infrastructure provision in Bukedea district the Pearson correlation index is represented as r = 0.568**, its positive with sig value = 0.000<0.05 indicating a moderate relation implying a positive and significant relation between political leaders influence on infrastructure provision. It was noted that there is a significant and moderate relationship between political leaders involvement of monitoring school activities programs and school performance, it was seen that schools with strong political leaders involvement of monitoring schools activities and programs are different in market place which increases their school performance, it therefore concluded that political leaders involvement through marketing of school, contribution of funds in schools and advocating for government support tremendous role towards school performance and hence secondary schools in Bukedea District need to embrace it for better results. Secondary schools. The Pearson correlation index obtained on political leaders influence on Students’ dropout is represented as r = 0.830**. It’s positive with sig value 0.000<0.05 indicating a high relationship implying there is positive and high relationship. The Pearson product moment correlation index obtained on political leaders involvement on authentic assessment is represented as r = 0.953, its positive with sig value = 0.000<0.05 indicating a very high relationship implying there is a positive and very high relationship.