Relationship Between Þÿ H E A D T E A C H E R S _ M A N A G E M E N Þÿ S K I L L S A N D P R E S C H O O L E R S _ Access To Quality Education In Kisii County, Kenya

ABSTRACT The first five years of a child play a critical role in laying a solid foundation for primary, secondary and future learning of any student or pupil. Hence, the quality of Early Childhood Education which leads to the acquisition of basic competencies among preschoolers is crucial for a child’s subsequent learning and Educational advancement. In spite of the great importance associated with the Early Childhood Development and Education in Kenya, the government’s effort to ensure that all preschool age children access quality education has not been impressive. The objectives of the study were to establish the influence of head teachers’ human resource management skills on preschoolers’ access to quality Education; determine the influence of head teachers’ financial management skills on preschoolers’ access to quality Education; investigate the influence of head teachers’ teaching/learning resources management skills on preschoolers’ access to quality Education and to determine the influence of head teacher management of classroom lesson attendance on preschoolers’ access to quality Education. The study adopted School-Based Management (SBM) Theory and Chikutuma’s Model on pre-schoolers’ access to quality Education. The study used survey research design. Further the study adopted mixed method approach. The target population for the study included 702 Head teachers, 957 Preprimary Teachers, 9 sub-county ECDE officers and 2 County ECDE officers in Kisii County. To obtain the required sample size, the study employed cluster and purposive sampling procedures. The sample size for the study included 155 Head teachers, 282 Pre-primary Teachers, 9 subcounty ECDE officers and 2 County ECDE officers. The data was collected using questionnaires; interview schedule and school Observation checklists. To ensure validity of research instruments in the present study, the expertise of the supervisors was employed for their validation. The study employed the split-half method to establish the reliability of the instrument which was found as r= 0.848. Quantitatively collected data was analyzed using measures of central tendencies, frequency distributions, percentages, Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient, simple and multiple regression analysis while thematic analysis, content analysis and verbative reporting was used to analyse qualitative data. The study established that there was statistically significant positive correlation (r=.593, n=268, p