Institutional Factors Influencing Completion Of Construction Projects In Public Day Secondary Schools In Kenya. A Case Of Imenti North Subcounty, Meru County

Abstract

The phenomenon of having incomplete/stalled buildings in most of the government ministries has become very common in recent years. The most cases of this have been experienced in learning institutions. The purpose of this study was to investigate on institutional factors influencing the completion of construction projects in public day secondary schools in imenti north sub-county. The researcher used a descriptive survey design to establish the institutional factors influencing completion of construction project in public day secondary schools. The target population for the study was consisting of all the 43 principals, 43 accountants/bursars and 43 BOM chairpersons from all the secondary schools in Imenti North Sub County. It also included the DEO, DQASO and the CDE of Meru county. The study adopted a census approach where 90 respondents out of the 132 from the target population were selected. This was including 29 principals, 29 BOM chairpersons, 29 accountants/bursars, DEO, DQASO and the CDE since the study was focused only on public day schools. Census approach is appropriate where the target population is small and all can be easily contacted as was the case for this study. Data was collected by the use of two questionnaires. The data was analyzed and interpreted both qualitatively and quantitatively in the light of the research objectives. Analysis of data was conducted with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Qualitative statistical techniques was used to describe and summarize the data. The results was then presented and interpreted in the form of descriptive statistics; frequencies, percentages, means, mode and correlation. The findings were represented in tables and pie charts. From the study, it was found that the institutional factors investigated had an influence on the completion of construction projects in public day secondary schools in Imenti North sub county to different extents. These were; the school management, budget allocation, project planning and monitoring and evaluation. The findings showed that the school management and budget allocation were the key factors that affected completion of projects to a large extent. It was concluded that for timely completion of projects, there was to be appropriate school management skills, availability and adequate finances, good project planning skills and appropriate monitoring and evaluation skills. Absence of all these factors led to incompletion of projects in schools. Among the few recommendations from the study were, the government to ensure qualified school principals and avail adequate finances for the school projects.