PRINCIPALS' MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND PROMOTION OF SOCIAL COHESION

This study sought to investigate principals' management practices on promoting social cohesion in public secondary schools in Machakos County, Kenya. The study objectives were to: establish how principals' use curriculum; students' support systems; teacher support systems and involvement of the school community relations in promoting social cohesion in public secondary schools in Machakos County. The hypothesis for the study were that there is no statistically significant relationship between principals' use of school curriculum, use of student support systems, use of teacher support systems and use of internal and external school community relation and promotion of social cohesion. The study was guided by the ecological systems theory of human development and socialization. The results indicate that principals' management practices were statistically significant in contributing to the promotion of social cohesion in public secondary schools in Machakos County. However, findings show that values were not integrated in school curriculum and service to community was not, yet they are core aspects that enhance cohesion.