Influence of school prefects’ involvement In governance of public primary schools Borabu district, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of school prefects involvement on governance of public primary schools in Borabu district, Kenya. The study was guided by the four research objectives. The research objectives were to determine the extent to which prefects involvement in formulation of school rules, time keeping, maintenance of cleanliness, organising co-curricular activities influenced governance of public primary schools in Borabu District. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The sample comprised of 15 headteachers, 15 deputy headteachers and 152 prefects. Questionnaires were used to gather data for the study from all the headteachers, deputy headteachers and the pupils. Findings indicated that prefects’ were involved in the formulation of rules and regulations. For example prefects indicated that they were asked of their opinions by the school administration regarding school matters. Majority of the deputy headteachers indicated that they involved the prefects in formulation of school rules and regulations to a large extent. The deputy headteachers met with the prefects often to discuss matters regarding the schools activities. Findings also revealed that prefects were involvement in school governance in their role of time keeping. For example, Headteachers, deputy headteachers and prefects indicated that there was a prefect in-charge of time keeping. All the respondents in the study deemed the role in time keeping by the prefects as being very important. Findings indicated that prefects were involved in school cleanliness. For example, they were involved in organizing school co curricular activities. There were prefect incharge of co-curricular activities. The headteachers reported that they ensured that the prefects took charge of school co-curricular activities very often. The study concluded that prefects’ were involved in the formulation of rules and regulations. The study concluded that prefects were involvement in school governance in their role of time keeping. The study further concluded that prefects were involved in organizing co-curricular activities. The study recommended that the school administration should put in place training programmes for prefects in a bid to enhance their involvement in school governance. That schools should have laid down policies on how prefects ought to be involved in school governance and lastly that the school administration should allow pupils to democratically elect their prefects. The study suggested that an investigation on challenges facing prefects in school governance should be conducted. A study on the influence of prefects involvement in school governance on pupils academic performance should be conducted and a study on role of headteachers in facilitation of prefects involvement in school governance should be conducted.