Factors Influencing Implementation of Projects Undertaken by Private Secondary Schools in Nakuru County, Kenya.

Abstract

Education provision for learners at all levels in Kenya is an open venture for willing entrepreneurs to invest and offer affordable quality services with little inclination by the government on how they operate. At secondary school level, government public schools do not accomplish the demand hence arise of private secondary schools. Private secondary schools are initiated by individuals, partnerships, churches or NGOs who are responsible for startups infrastructural facilities. These schools usually starts small and are known for undertaking projects continuously over the years to enhance expansion and image of the school. This study looked at the factors influencing implementation of projects undertaken by private secondary schools in Nakuru County. It aspired at; examining the extent to which management skills influence implementation of projects undertaken by private secondary schools, establishing the influence of financial planning on implementation of projects undertaken by private secondary schools and investigating the influence of stakeholders‟ involvement on implementation of projects undertaken by private secondary schools. The study was carried out using descriptive survey design and targeted all the 158 registered private secondary schools in Nakuru County. A sample size of 49 private secondary schools was selected for the study using stratified simple random sampling technique. Structured questionnaires were administered to school principals and interview scheduled on school administrators. The responses were coded by assigning a numerical value and keyed into the computer using SPSS for windows software version 22.0. Descriptive statistics such as means, stddev, frequency and percentages were used for quantitative analysis of the data. Inferential statistics involving parametric tests in form of correlation, analysis of variance and linear regression analysis were also used. The results of the analyzed data are presented in form of tables for easier interpretation. The findings attested that management skills, financial planning and stakeholders‟ involvement has a positive, strong and statistically significant relationship on implementation of projects undertaken by private secondary schools in Nakuru County. Over 70% of school principals perceived to be able to approve projects and parts of projects without consulting despite moderately (49%) unable to develop a budget for respective projects undertaken by their schools. Budget making in most (85%) private secondary schools is guided by clear goals and source of finances for the project greatly (64%) identified though shortage of finances in most (83%) delayed completion time for school projects. Most (75%) private secondary schools had a selected team of stakeholders tasked for project supervision, evaluating school projects and recommending commissioning. The study recommends that the school principals and administrators should enroll for management training courses especially project management to equip themselves with adequate planning and management skills. Moreover, private secondary schools should have accounting supportive documents and records for each project and establish proper way of monitoring how finances for school projects are utilized by all involved departments and persons. In addition, private secondary schools should involve stakeholders in discussing the expectations of projects on time, cost and quality of product as well as make a regular expenditure report available for scrutiny by all stakeholders.