Influence of Socioeconomic Factors on Governance of Secondary Schools in Oyugis Zone, Rachuonyo Subcounty, Homa Bay County, Kenya

Abstract

This study was aimed at investigating the influence of socioeconomic factors on governance of secondary schools in Oyugis zone Rachuonyo South Sub-County, Homa Bay County in Kenya. To guide the study, four research objectives were developed: to establish the influence of parental level of education, school sponsors, drugs and substance abuse and household income on governance of secondary schools in Oyugis Zone, Rachuonyo South County, Homa Bay County. The study employed Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory and humanistic theory and in particular the Abraham Maslow theory which pitches that human needs are hierarchical and basic needs must be addressed first. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study targeting all the 22 public secondary schools, 22 principals, 216 teachers, 286 BoM, 88 church sponsor representatives and 6000 parents in Oyugis Zone. Purposive sampling was used to select 7 schools, 7 principals 22 teachers, 29 BoM members and 24 school sponsor representatives and 44 parents. Questionnaires, interview guides and Focus Group Discussions were used to collect data. Qualitatively collected data were analyzed using thematics, whereas, quantitatively collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The data was presented using frequency tables, graphs. The study found out that low level of income and education inhibited parent’s participation in school governance activities such as provision of finance, learning and teaching resource, attending meetings and monitoring the academic progress of the students. And education was not a priority to the impoverished parents and students. The study also revealed that drug and substance abuse was major cause of student’s indiscipline and lack of commitment to schooling with negative impact on school governance. Church sponsors although important with regard to spiritual nourishment, they were unduly interfering with staff recruitment, misusing school facilities and inhibiting the smooth running of the schools. From the conclusions it was recommended that parents, students and school communities must be encouraged to be more involved in school governance activities, address drug and substance abuse and a review of sponsor involvement in school management.