Influence of School Managers' Attitudes on Their Utilisation of Educational Management Information Systems in Public Senior Schools in Nakuru County, Kenya

Abstract

This article examined the influence of school managers’ attitudes on the utilisation of Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) in public senior schools in Nakuru County, Kenya. The study was grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM2) and employed a convergent parallel research design. The final sample comprised 62 principals, 191 deputy principals and 191 class teachers. Qualitative data were obtained through interviews with the County Director of Education, 11 Sub-County Directors of Education and principals, while quantitative data were collected using questionnaires. The instruments were pretested in five schools outside the study area. The study applied descriptive and inferential statistical techniques to the quantitative data, including Pearson’s correlation and simple linear regression. The qualitative data were analysed in NVivo following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis framework. The findings revealed that school managers’ attitudes significantly influenced EMIS utilisation, accounting for 24.3 per cent of the variance. Qualitative findings further indicated generally positive attitudes towards EMIS, but highlighted usability challenges, compliance-based perspectives and limited persistence despite perceived benefits. The study concluded that positive attitudes alone are insufficient to ensure sustained EMIS utilisation without adequate infrastructure and user efficacy. It recommended improving system usability, providing regular training and technical support, and demonstrating the importance of EMIS to promote sustained use. The findings have implications for policy and practice aimed at enhancing EMIS utilisation in public senior schools.