An Evaluation of the Principal’s Instructional Supervision on Academic Performance: A Case of Sameta Primary School Kisii County, Kenya

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of principal’s instructional supervision on academic performance in Sameta primary School in Kisii, Kenya. The specific objectives of this study were; to determine if there was effective instructional supervision by the principal, to investigate the quality of teaching and learning process, to explore the level of syllabus coverage in all classes, to identify challenges encountered by the principal while conducting instructional supervision and give recommendation on how to mitigate the challenges of instructional supervision by the principal. A descriptive survey research design was used in this study. The study focused on the head teacher, heads of departments and teachers. The study targeted the school due to its drop in performance over the years from 2008 to 2012. For this purpose census method was used to select all 6 heads of departments, 13 teachers and 1 head teacher. The sample size for the study is 20. This method ensures that the entire sample group has an equal chance of being selected for the study. The study used questionnaire, interview schedule, and document analysis in data collection. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such frequencies and percentages with the aid of a computer program SPSS (Version 17). Inferential statistics such as chi-square (x2) was also used to test the differences amongst the variables and if they had a significant effect. The major forms of instructional supervision techniques used by the principal in Sameta primary School, Kisii were exploration and discovery, question and answer, open ended observation, observational learning, rating scale, checklist and peer review. The use of thematic learning as a way of determining syllabus coverage in school showed no significant difference since teachers in this school mostly do not use thematic learning as a way of determining the extent of syllabus coverage in class. Similarly, monitoring by teachers aids in measuring the extent of syllabus coverage in class. Therefore most teachers in the school use monitoring as a way of measuring the extent of syllabus coverage in class. It was recommended that in order to improve on the academic standards of the school, the principal should devise more ways of instructional supervision techniques that are aimed at improving the general academic standards of the school. The study is useful to the Education Managers, principalsl, head teachesr, teachers, parents and even students of Sameta primary as well as other Schools in the region and globally. Key words: Principal’s instructional supervision on academic performance, Kisii County

An Analysis of Loan Portfolio Management on Organization Profitability: Case of Commercial Banks in Kenya

The banking sector in any economy serves as a catalyst for growth and development. Banks are able to perform this role through their crucial functions of financial intermediation, provision of an efficient payment system and facilitating the implementation of monetary policies. Bank profitability is usually expressed as a function of internal and external determinants. The overall performance and profitability of the banking sector in Kenya has improved tremendously over the last 10 years. The aim of this study was to close the gap in knowledge by investigating profitability determinants within commercial banks in Kenya. The determinants studied were loan portfolio, interest expense, and administration costs and assets value. A descriptive survey design was employed in this study. The population of the study was the management employees working for commercial banks in Kenya. The sample was accessed by use of both stratified and simple random sampling. A questionnaire was used to gather the primary information. The questionnaires were self-administered and were served to the respondents by self-introduction. Research assistants were used to follow up on duly completed questionnaires. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse primary data while the SAS v.6 of 2009 was used to analyse the secondary data gathered from the banks. Findings of the study showed that public sector banks and private sector banks were not much affected by increasing or decreasing of interest margin. It can therefore be interpreted that the profitability growth of public and private sector banks are not dependent on fluctuation of interest rate although the foreign banks have the benefit of high return due to increase or decrease in interest margin. Key Words: Loan portfolio Management on organization profitability, commercial Banks in Keny