Prefects’ Preparedness in Public Secondary Schools: A Case of Baringo North Sub-County, Baringo County, Kenya

The purpose of the study was to investigate the level of preparedness of prefects in secondary schools in Baringo North Sub-county. The objectives of the study were: to establish the mode of selection used by various schools to select their prefects and to determine the level of preparedness of secondary school prefects to assume the duties given to them by the school administration. The study was guided by Henry Mintzberg’s theory on organizational structures and systems. The ontology was pragmatism and the epistemology was realism. The research method was mixed method. The research design was ex post-facto, random sampling and stratified techniques were applied. Data was generated using questionnaires and interview schedule. A total of 324 participants, 114 females and 210 males, eight deputy head teachers from the secondary schools responded to the Questionnaire and interview schedule. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequencies and percentages. The findings established that prefects are not adequately prepared though they are expected to act as agents in the management of secondary schools. It therefore provides solutions to the failure of prefects to effectively perform their duties through adequate preparation hence ease management by guess work. It recommended that the prefect system be replaced with a council and the latter be phased out with time in public secondary schools among other recommendations.