Factors affecting performance of board of governors in management of public secondary schools in Kenya (a case study of Nyeri District)
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Date
2014-04-04
Authors
Kiriinya, Francis Mwenda
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Abstract
In order to realize the objectives of secondary schools in Kenya, there is need for effective
management. This has necessitated the constitution of Board of Governors (B.O.G's), whose
primary role has been the management of the schools.
Over the years however, there has been concern over the mismanagement of public secondary
schools in Kenya. This study therefore aimed at investigating factors that affect the performance
of B.O.Gs of public secondary schools in Kenya, with special reference to Nyeri District.
The following research questions were used to guide the study:-
• What are the factors affecting the performance of Board of Governors (B.O.G.) in
management of our public secondary schools in Nyeri District?
• Do the criteria used to select the Board of Governors members affect their performance?
• To what extent do the B.O.G. Members participate in the school decision making process?
• Does the level of awareness and information on the financial position of the school affect
performance ofB.O.G.s ?
• Does education training and past experience of the members affected performance?
The researcher collected primary data using questionnaires, whose respondents included
chairmen, members of the board and the head teacher of each school. The DEO, Nyeri district
was also be included in the study. The target population was 95 secondary schools in Nyeri
District. The sample included 19 BOG Chairmen, 19 Headteachers (BOG Secretaries) , 95
ordinary members of the B.O.G and DEO Nyeri. Literature review was done in books,
journals, periodicals, and internet, on the general management of schools, legal framework for
the constitution, functioning and role of B.O.Gs and role of the head teacher in the board and in
the management of the secondary schools.
The tesearch was based on both exploratory and descriptive designs. Data was analyzed by the
use of descriptive statistics like: tables, pie charts, sequences, percentages and graphs. These
were analyzed using SPSS (statistical package for social science).
The main findings of the study revealed that few members attend board meetings regularly.
This has contributed negatively to the performance of the B.O.G.s. As a result of not attending
crucial meetings the headtechers are left to make decisions on their own. Sometimes decisions
are delayed awaiting when there will be a quorum. The study also found that few members of
the Board of Governors take part in financial decisions of the schools. This explains why many
projects that are undertaken take time to complete. Lack of awareness on financial position of
the school by the members left the finances in the hands of the headteachers. It was also
revealed that auditors rarely visits schools for financial inspection. Many schools books of
accounts have not been audited for many years. Therefore the board of governors are not fully in
control. , The study revealed that members would be happy with payment of sitting
allowances which for now are against the Education Act. In view of the findings, I wish to
make the following recommendations :-
• The Education Act to be reviewed to cater for fewer members of governors to avoid the
problem of lack of quorum.
• The Education Act to establish sitting allowances for the BOG Members at a certain fixed
rate
• To increase the number of auditors at the District level to enable auditing of books regularly
• The District Education Officer to be allowed to replace members who do not attend board
meetings regularly without having to seek for authority from the Ministry Headquarters.
Further research could be done on the contribution of the sponsor, the community surrounding
. the school on the performance ofthe B.O.G.
Description
Department of Business Administration, 87p. The LB 2831 .K57 2005
Keywords
School management teams --Kenya --Nyeri District, School management and organisation --Kenya --Nyeri District