Effectiveness Of School Boards In Community Secondary Schools In Tanzania: A Case Study Of Chamwino District In Dodoma Region

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the effectiveness of school boards in community secondary schools in Chamwino District, Dodoma Region. The study aimed at assessing the extent to which school boards in community secondary schools are effective in accomplishing their roles and responsibilities; evaluating the level of autonomy exercised by school boards; assessing community participation in making and implementing decisions and, assessing the extent to which the board diversity affects decision making. The study employed a cross sectional design and qualitative approach supported by some quantitative elements to collect data from 35 respondents, teachers, heads of schools, District Secondary Education Officer and school board members, who were obtained through simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Interviews, documentary review and focus group discussion were used to collect data from the participants from four schools. Key findings in this study indicate that although school boards operate in community secondary schools, accomplishment of their roles is affected by lack of awareness of the members of school boards about their roles due to lack of training, inadequate funding and low community support in implementing the decisions passed by school boards. All these limit school boards from effectively carrying out their mandated roles. Based on these findings, it is concluded that the school boards in the District are ineffective in implementing their responsibilities as indicated in the Government directives. Scheduled training of board members, adequate funding and greater autonomy to school boards on financial management as well as community sensitization about ownership of secondary schools are recommended.