School Boards and The Management of Public Secondary Schools in Bukoba Municipality In Kage Region, Tanzania

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of school boards on school management in public secondary schools in Bukoba Municipal, Kagera Region, Tanzania. The following objectives guided the study: i) to find out the relationship between decision making roles of the boards and school management in Public secondary schools in Bukoba Municipal; ii) to establish the relationship between the level of accountability of school boards and school management in Public secondary schools in Bukoba Municipal; iii) to assess the relationship between the advisory role of school boards and school management in Public secondary schools in Bukoba Municipal; and iv) to determine the relationship between school boards and school management in Public secondary schools in Bukoba Municipal. The study used cross-sectional design employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches from a sample size of 164 respondents which included the school board members and the head teachers. The response rate of the study was 9Q% given the fact that 147 questionnaires returned from 164 that were distributed. The research instruments included both questionnaires and interview guide. Data was analysed using frequency and percentage tables; mean and standard deviations, Pearson correlation coefficient and regression analysis. The study found that in the first objective there was a moderate and positive relationship between board decision making roles and school management ((r=.599* R2=.358, pobjective found a strong and positive relationship between accountability roles of school boards and school management (r=.851** R2=J25, pobjective of this study found a strong and positive relationship between school board advisory role and school management (r=O~848~ R2=.718, pobjective found a strong and positive relationship between school boards and school management (r=O.805** R2=.821, pboards are very important in ensuring better school management. The study made the following recommendations: The need for the school boards to put their efforts in supervising and strengthening their relationships with the teachers and the parents; the need for the school boards to emphasize parents’ involvement in school meetings and their students’ affairs; the need for the government to set a side special funding for the school boards; the need to strengthen the capacity of the school boards for them to understand their strategic role in building a productive relationship with the head teachers while holding them to account for school performance and better school management.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION

APPROVAL Ii

DEDICATIONS iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT v

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS vi

LIST OF TABLES xi

ABSTRACT xii

CHAPTER ONE 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

1.1.1 Historical Perspective 1

1.1.2 Theoretical Perspective 3

1.1.3 Conceptual Perspective 4

1.1.4 Contextual Perspective 5

1.2 Problem Statement 6

1.3 Purpose of the Study 7

1.4 Objectives of the Study 7

1.5 Research Question 7

1.6 Null Hypothesis 8

1.7 Scope 8

1.7.1 Geographical Scope 8

1.7.2 Theoretical Scope 8

1.7.3 Content Scope 9

vii

1.8 Significance of the Study .9

CHAPTER TWO ii

LITERATURE REVIEW 11

2.1 Theoretical Review 11

2.3 Related Literature 14

2.3.1 School boards 14

2.3.1.1 Decision Making Role and Management of Public Secondary Schools 16

2.3.1.2 Board Accountability Role and Management of Public Secondary

Schools 19

2.3.1.3 Board Advisory Role and Management of Public Secondary Schools... 20

2.3.2 School Management 22

2.3.2.1 Student Management 23

2.3.2.2 Financial Management 23

2.3.2.3 Staff Management 24

2.3.3 The Relationship between School Boards and School Management .......26

2.4 Gaps of the Study 27

CHAPTER THREE 29

METHODOLOGY 29

3.1 Research Design 29

3.2 Target Population 29

3.3 Sample Size 30

3.5 Sampling Technique 30

3.6 Data Source 31

3.6.1 Primary Sources 31

vHl

3.6.2 Secondar~c Source .31

3.7 Research Instruments .31

3.7.1 Questionnaires .31

3.7.2 Inter~~ievki Guide .32

3.8 Validity and Reliability 32

3.8.1 faliditic lest 32

3.8.2 Rellabilit)~ 34

3.9 Data Gathering Procedure 35

3.10 Data P~nalysis 36

3.11 Etlicai consideration 37

3.12 LhTlitations of tite Stuicty 37

Cl—L~Pl~ER 101JR 39

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA 39

4.1 Resçcnse Rate 39

4.1 Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents 39

4.2 rite Role of Sctiool Boarcis 42

4.3 Sctiool Management 47

4.2 The Relationship Between Decision Making Roies of the Boards and School

Management In Public Secondary Schools in Bukoba Municipal 52

4.3 The Relationship Between the Accountability Roles of School Boards and

School Management in Public Secondary Schools in Bukoba Municipal 54

4.4 The Relationship Between Advisory Role of School Boards and School

Management in Public Secondary Schools in Bukoba Municipal 56

ix

4.5 The Relationship Between School Boards and School Management in

Public Secondary Schools in Bukoba Municipal 57

CHAPTER FIVE 60

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 60

5.0 Introduction 60

5.1 Discussion of the Findings 60

5.1.1 The Relationship Between Decision Making Roles of the Boards and

School Management In Public Secondary Schools in Bukoba Municipal 60

5.1.2 The Relationship Between the Accountability Roles of School Boards and

School Management in Public Secondary Schools in Bukoba Municipal 61

5.1.3 The Relationship Between Advisory Role of School Boards and School

Management in Public Secondary Schools in Bukoba Municipal 62

5.1.4 The Relationship Between School Boards and School Management in

Public Secondary Schools in Bukoba Municipal 63

5.2 Conclusion 64

5.3 Recommendations 65

5,4 Areas for Further Studies 67

References 68

APPENDIX IA: TRANSMITAL LETTER 77

APPENDIX IB: TRANSMITAL LETTER 78

APPENDIX II: INFORMED CONSENT 79

APPENDIX III: QUESTIONNAIRE 80

APPENDIX IV: INTERVIEW GUIDES 83