Secondary School Principals’ Preparedness on Implementation of Competency- Based Education in Tigania West Subcounty, Meru County

The study sought to evaluate the secondary school principals’ preparedness on implementation of competency- based education in Tigania West Sub County. The objectives of the study were to find out ways principals’ ensured stability of school human resource in readiness to implementing competency-based curriculum education; establish the school initiatives undertaken by principals in readiness to implementing competency-based curriculum education and assess the principals’ leadership styles exercised during the implementation process in readiness to competency-based curriculum education. The study used descriptive survey design and targeted a population of 867 participants comprising of 51 principals, 255 HoDs, 510 teachers, and 51 parents in the study area. Using stratified sampling technique based on Yamene sample size tables, this yielded sub samples of 10 principals, 30 HoDs, 60 teachers and 10 parents. The study instruments were questionnaires, and interviews. Quantitative and qualitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and statistical packages for social sciences version 20.0 respectively. A response rate of 98.5% was achieved. The major findings of the study showed that; 80 % of the principals supported both teaching and non-teaching staff by facilitating them to attend to relevant workshops and seminars, being sensitive to individual needs, organizing separate joint retreats and educational trips for each category. A44.7% of the secondary school principals employed democratic leadership styles during preparation for CBC implementation. 21.3% of the principals engaged networking and linkages processes for school to create network with local NGOs and agencies to provide the required learning resources in readiness for CBC. Further, 90% of the parents lamented high additional costs they incurred in preparation to CBC. The study concluded that most of the school were on high gear preparing for implementation of CBC despite the changes of acquiring the requisite resources. The study recommended for a harmonized way of mobilizing resources within the constituencies via the elected leaders offices so as not to leave behind some secondary school.