Challenges facing Board of Governors in the management of public secondary schools in Kitui Central Division of Kitui District, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the challenges facing Board of Governors in the management of public secondary schools in Kitui Central Division of Kitui District. The study was guided by the following objectives: to examine the level of competence of the BOGs on financial management in public secondary schools in Kitui District; to assess the level of involvement of BOGs in decision making in the administration of public secondary schools; to examine the involvement of BOGs' in the provision of physical facilities in public secondary schools and to establish the role of BOGs in managing staff discipline in public secondary schools. This study employed a descriptive survey design.

The target population was 50 principals and 750 teachers and 50 bursars in all the 50 public secondary schools in Kitui District. Purposive sampling was used to select the teachers. The study sampled 5 teachers from each school making a total of 150 and 30 headteachers. One bursar was also purposively selected from each of the sampled schools making a total of 30 bursars. A questionnaire was used as the instrument for gathering data. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. From the findings it is clear that all teachers and bursars agreed that the BOG were involved in approving school budget and were as well involved in ensuring auditing of school financial resources. Although the BOG is involved in decision making on the recruitment of teachers and non-teaching staff, it is clear that they also have to follow the guidelines given by the Ministry of Education as indicated by the teachers and the bursars. In provision of physical facilities, the BOGs are involved in the provision of teaching and learning materials as reported by the teachers and bursars.

The BOGs are faced with the challenge of soliciting for funds to construct classrooms, laboratories and provision of school equipments. On staff and students discipline, the BOGs are not involved in the selecting of school prefects, disciplining TSC teachers and formulating school rules as reported by the teachers and bursars. The following are the conclusions of the study: The BOGs need to be involved fully in determining the remuneration of BOG teachers and non-teaching staff. In provision of physical facilities the BOG should work hand in hand with other stakeholders to provide the necessary infrastructure of the school. The BOG needs to be fully involved in disciplining errant members of the school community. The following were the recommendations of the study. The BOG should be given proper induction and also should be exposed to in-service training in financial management. The BOGs should be fully involved in the determining the remuneration of the BOG teachers and non-teaching staff by the principals. Physical facilities are important for good performance in a school. The BOG should always work in consultation with other stakeholders to achieve the necessary school infrastructure. Discipline of teachers and students should be checked by all members of the school community inorder to always achieve the best they can.