An Investigation of Role of Boards of Management in Provision of Quality Education
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Date
2015
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Publisher
Tangaza University College
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of boards of management in provision of quality education (case of financial management in public secondary schools in Gatanga Sub County in Murang’a County, Kenya). The body entrusted to oversee the governance and management of public secondary school is board of management. The research objectives aimed at identifying the role of boards of management in public secondary schools in Gatanga Sub County; finding out the extent to which school finances are mismanaged in public secondary schools in Gatanga Sub County and their root causes; finding out ways towards quality education in Gatanga Sub County public secondary schools; finding out possible solutions towards good governance and financial management of public secondary schools in Gatanga Sub County. The researcher used descriptive survey to illustrate the structure of the research. The researcher used both qualitative and quantitative paradigms of study to investigate the problem statement. The target population of the study was 12 public secondary schools in Gatanga Sub County. Out of the 12 targeted schools all participated in the study. The school principals, school deputy principal, BOM chairpersons, PA chairpersons and School bursar constituted the respondents. Each school was expected to have 5 respondents making a total of 60 respondents and only 42 participated. Stratified sampling procedure was used and probability sampling technique to select 1 principal, 1 deputy, Chairperson BOM and Chairperson PA and school bursar; making a total of 5 respondents from each school of the 12 schools out of 40 public secondary schools making it 30 % population size. The researcher also use purposive sampling for better representation. The researcher used structured and unstructured questions based on the objectives this research. The raw data collected was analyzed through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21 for windows and presented using tables, pie charts and graphs. The key findings was that majority respondent reported being contented by the role of boards of management in their respective schools. The finding indicated the need to create awareness of the roles and functions of the board of management. Participatory monitoring and social accountability was operational in most schools. Motive, opportunity and unethical orientation were pointed to be factors influencing bad governance and financial mismanagement in public secondary school. While cheating and deceit, waste and financial mismanagement, fraud and stealing were other elements detected in most public schools. The value of education was high among the responds despite the poor performance in academics in Gatanga Sub County. Pedagogical process and professional practices were identified as major determining factors toward quality education. The study findings established that bad governance and financial mismanagement of school resources affected area such as academic performance due to mismanagement of time; while high expenditures resulted from high wastage observed in most schools. The researcher recommendations included regular empowerment programmes and capacity building; transparency and accountability, and regular auditing of financial statements and proper recording; reinforcement of financial control systems and use of information computer technology; alternative resource mobilization to improve the infrastructure in existence; proper internal monitoring, regular assessment and supervision by Education Officers; development plan identifying key projects according to the need of the each school, implementation plans and comprehensive evaluation.
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Keywords
Boards of Management, Quality Education