The impact of expansion and establishment of more secondary schools on physical and material resources in Murang'a District-Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate and establish the impact of expansion and establishment of more public secondary schools on physical and material resources. The study was guided by four objectives. To find out the current status of physical and material resources in public secondary schools in Murang'a District; to determine the impact of expansion and establishment of more public secondary schools on existing physical and material resources; to determine whether the existing physical and material resources can allow further expansion of existing schools and finally, to examine ways and means of improving the existing physical and material resources to acceptable level. The study adopted a descriptive survey method. The study was conducted in Murang'a District where a sample of 20 public secondary schools was sampled using a stratified method. The study had 66 respondents: 40 form-masters 4 AEOs', 1 DQA&SO and 1 DEO. However, two principals did not return the questionnaires and only responses from 64 respondents were analyzed. The study instruments used were principals' and form-masters' questionnaires; DEO, DQA & SO and AEOs' interview schedules and researcher's observation schedule. The two instruments were used to supplement questionnaire data. Data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and reported using simple descriptive statistics including frequencies, percentages and means. Data were summarized in tables and pie charts. The study revealed that the expansion and establishment of more secondary schools had positive and negative effects on the schools in relation to enrolment, adequacy of physical and material resources, and that there was much the schools, the community and the government could do to improve the state of physical and material resources in the schools. The study concludes that the status of physical and material resources in public secondary schools in Murang'a District is not only inadequate but also not well-maintained. The study recommends that the government should review the cost-sharing policy at the secondary school level and reinstate grants to schools. Schools should be encouraged to initiate and diversify income-generating activities to broaden and strengthen their financial base; while the Ministry of Education through the District Education Board (D.E.B) should ensure that schools construct physical facilities that respond to a variety of needs-multipurpose halls.