Effectiveness Of Boards Of Management In Facilitating Quality Education In Secondary Schools In Kajiado County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

The study analyzed major functions of Board of Management in facilitating quality education of public education secondary schools in Kajiado North District, Kenya. The study examined the effectiveness of Board of Management as a salient prerequisite to success of the schools in all areas of operations so as to create enabling environment to carter for efficient school management which would improve academic standards and provide quality education. The study was mainly guided establishing the effectiveness of BOMs in management of school finances, effective provision of physical facilities and staff personnel discipline, curriculum and instruction, implementation of education policies, school community relations and recruitment of the staff in Kajiado County. The study adopted descriptive survey design in which it targeted a population of 161 members of the BOM, 23 schools, two head teachers in the 23 schools, two teachers from each school and DEO; who were selected by use of both purposive and simple random sampling methods. A sample of ten schools was picked through random sampling with two BOM members in every school, 10 principals, two teachers from the sampled schools and DEO. All the ten head teachers in the ten sampled schools were included in the study. Data was collected from BOM members, teachers and head teachers by use of questionnaires, interviews and analysis guide schedules. A pilot study was also undertaken to test the reliability of the instruments used. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data and information generated was tabulated by use of frequencies and percentages. The study found out that most of the BOM members were not effectively involved in financial management. However, it was believed that their effective participation in the provision of Physical facilities and material resources in the schools has improved learning conditions in the schools. Regarding the management of the student discipline and staff personnel, the BOM members were effective in roles such as counseling sessions in school, motivating teachers and non-teaching staff and finances teachers to attend refresher courses. The study recommend that the bureaucratic procedures in dealing with the students‘ discipline need to be reviewed in an effort to have more control in managing this aspect to enhance school performance, BOMs be both trained on school management policy making and BOM employees be appraised annually and though the BOMs participated in recruitment of the staff, they were not effective due to lack of enough training. The government should provide the BOMs with training so as to enhance their skills in recruitment and selection of the staff so as to ensure that the schools attract only the best talents.