Challenges Hindering Effective Utilization of School Resources for Better Service Delivery in Public Secondary Schools in Nyamira Division, Nyamira County, Kenya
Abstract
The study was designed to enhance prudence and efficiency in the management of
school resources and more importantly its finances. The study sought to identify the
challenges hindering effective utilization of school resources for effective service
delivery in public secondary schools in Nyamira Division, Nyarnira County. This
study was anchored on the prudential theory propounded by an American
Economist, Athur B. Laffer (1980) and the efficiency theory also propounded by
another American economist Havey (1993). They argued that managers like
principals of schools must handle and spend money wisely and that the general
efficiency of a firm rests in its ability to transform resources into optimum profits.
These theories are relevant and applicable especially when focusing on financial
management and handling of public resources in the schools. The population of this
study comprised of 16 public schools, 16 principals, 272 teachers, 4 ZQASOs and 1
DEO. The study targeted the 16 (100%) public schools in the division, the sample
consisted of the 16 schools, 16 (100%) principals, 68(23% teachers, 2(50%)
ZQASOs and 1(100%) DEO. The total respondents were 87(29%) out of a
population of 293(1 OO%).the validity of the research instruments was achieved with
the expert analysis of the supervisors, their reliability was ascertained using the
Spearman Brown Prophesy formula: during the pilot study which was conducted on
two randomly selected schools. A reliability coefficient of 0.75 was achieved which
is within the recommended by researchers. The pilot study was equally important to
check whether any challenges might be encountered in the study. The study adopted
the descriptive survey research design to investigate the various challenges of
effective utilization of resources .n sccon.la.y schools in Nyamira Division.
Questionnaires and interview schedules were used to collect data from the
respondents. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches of data analysis were
used. The study found out that nearly two thirds 53(62%) of the respondents agreed
that physical resources such as classrooms chairs and land affected service delivery
in schools, 25 (29%) of them indicated that human resource utilization was wanting
,..so needed serious attention, However, only 8(9%) of the respondents felt that
financial resource acquisition wasn't a problem but rather their utilization. The study
recommends that principals and field officers ensure effective resource utilization in
the schools they manage in order to enhance effective service delivery.