Strategies adopted by school management to contain the rising cost of Secondary Education in Kirinyaga-East District, Kirinyaga County, Kenya.
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Date
2015-02-05
Authors
Muriithi, Danson Githinji
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the strategies adopted by school management
to contain the rising cost of secondary education in Kirinyaga-East District in Kirinyaga
County so that there is progression to secondary school after class eight and reduced drop
outs in secondary schools. The objectives of the study were to establish controlled use of
school funds to contain the rising' cost of secondary education, establish strategies
adopted by secondary school management while budgeting so as to contain cost of
secondary education .find out other income generating strategies adopted by school
management to contain the rising cost of secondary education and establish strategies put
in place by school management in collection of user charges to contain the rising cost of
secondary school education in Kirinyaga-East District, Kirinyaga County. The theoretical
framework was based on the business strategy theory developed by Porter in
1980.Literature was reviewed on financing education outside African Countries; African
countries and Secondary education in Kenya. This study employed a descriptive survey
design. The target population for this study was 32 public secondary schools.
Respondents for this study were chosen using stratified and purposive sampling and
comprised of 23 people. These included; 7 Head teachers, 5 B.O.M chairpersons, 10
P.T.A chairpersons and the District Education Officer. Research instruments used in the
study included: questionnaires, interview schedule, and observation schedule. The data
was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics
such as frequencies and percentages were used to analyze the data. The analyzed data
was presented in the form of frequency tables, bar graphs and pie chart. The study
revealed that secondary schools in Kirinyaga-East District, Kirinyaga County adopted the
following strategies to contain the rising cost of secondary education; on controlled use
of school funds included regular auditing of school accounts, utilizing maximally the
existing alternative sources of income and employing cost reduction methods. On the
budgeting strategies, stake holders adjusted the budget regularly so as to work within it,
increased the vote head for co-curriculum activities, and had funds collection. On Income
generating strategies, very few schools used land and buildings available to raise an
income, community participation and other activities like walk were rarely used to raise
income and provision of cheap labor. Secondary schools relied on government bursaries
for bright arid needy students. Very few schools initiated a programme to assist bright
and needy students. On the user charges collection strategies, parents and guardians
exchanged services and goods for school fees and were required to make serious pledges
to have prompt fees payment. The study recommended that secondary schools
management could write proposals requesting for more funds, use of technical skills
within a secondary schoolIn home science rooms, computer rooms and workshops.
Finally, service and commercial based activities that generate income so as to contain the
rising cost of secondary education to be introduced in schools. This study could be
carried out in other counties in Kenya.
Description
Masters in Education-Department of Educational Management Policy & Curriculum Studies, 85p. October, 2013