The Influence of Public Primary School Headteachers Financial Management Skills on Implementation of School Projects: a Case of Bureti Constituency, Kenya.

Abstract

Considering the complex operation in project management, school heads play a very important role in the management of projects in their schools mainly in the area of financial management tasks that include how to source for funds, budgeting, financial reporting and finally procurement. The general objective of this study was aim at determining the influence of primary school head teachers’ financial management skills in implementation of school projects in Bureti Constituency. The specific objectives of this study were: to determine whether school heads have adequate skills to source for funds for implementing school projects in Bureti constituency; to establish the budgeting skills of school heads in management of school projects in Bureti Constituency; to determine how procurement skills of head teachers’ affect successful implementation of school project in Bureti Constituency and to establish whether school heads have financial reporting skills in the management of school projects in Bureti Constituency. The study used primary data, which was gathered from respondent using a semi-structured questionnaire. The researcher used descriptive statistics that include frequencies and percentages to analyse quantitative data while content analysis to analyse qualitative data. The findings were presented using pie charts, bar charts and frequency distribution tables. A one hundred response rate was recorded for this study. The finding were that majority of school heads indicated that their highest academic qualification is PI. The study also indicated that head teachers’ level of training affects the competence in sourcing of funds. The study also revealed that majority of school heads have attended training in financial management skills. The finding also indicated that majority of school heads are experienced to a larger extent in budgeting skills. Findings of the study also indicated that they are conversant to public and procurement Act of 2005 and that conversance with procurement Act enhances their efficiency in procurement. The study finding also showed that majority of school heads agreed that they do financial reporting in their schools. The target population was all public primary schools in Bureti constituency where all 26 head teachers’ were the respondents. The study recommended that the Teachers Service Commission and/or the government through Ministry of Education (MoE) should plan training programs on financial management skills for school heads. This was important because it would ensure that they were well prepared to effectively run the school programs and projects entrusted to them in their schools. The study too recommends the government should employ professionals with the aim of promoting skilled financial management staff. The outcome of the study proved that competent financial management staff enhances proficient and effective financial management.