Publication: Role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the Management of primary schools in Tharaka South District, Tharaka Nithi county-Kenya.
Total Views 13
total viewsTotal Downloads 20
total downloadsDate
2012-11
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Mount Kenya University
Cite this Item
Abstract
NGOs have been key promoters of all aspects of social-economic welfare of Kenyans for
the past two decades. Some of these organizations in education include catholic relief services,
Christian children foods, SOS-Kinderdorf International (Thierry, 2002). This study sought to
investigate the roles of NGOs in the management of primary schools. This study has been
necessitated by the fact that many NGOs have for alongtime been only involved in funding
education projects but not actively involved in the school management which is very crucial. The
study was conducted in 15 randomly selected primary schools in Tharaka South District, Tharaka
Nithi County. Data was collected form 15 head teachers, 30 NGOs representatives, 15 school
committee chairs and 30 pupils from the 15 randomly selected primary schools in the study area.
This made up a total sample population 90 respondents. The study employed the descriptive
survey design and used four predesigned questionnaires to collect data. The validity of the
questionnaire as a tool of research was determined using a pilot study. The researcher obtained a
research permit from the National Council for Science, Technology as required by law, and went
to the selected schools to collect data. The raw data collected were then cleaned, edited and
processed using MS excel Spread sheets. The processed data were represented in form of Charts
and Graphs generated from the MS Excel spread sheets for ease of analysis. This data
demonstrates the level of participation of NGOs in the management of primary schools in
Tharaka South District Tharaka Nithi County, how it affects the performance of these schools,
and how this can be improved. For instance, majority of the respondents attested that the roles of
NGOs in the management is currently limited, agreed that their participation in management has,
or would have a positive effect on the academic performance of these schools and identified
conflict of interest between NGO representatives and School Management Committee
representatives as the main challenge NGOs were facing in the management of primary schools.
Recommendations are laid forth on what steps ought to be taken to make all the stake holders in
these schools work together for the betterment of the performance of these schools. They
include, among others, that NGOs be given the opportunity to manage these schools, in
conjunction with the SMCs, to help improve their performances. These recommendations are
expected to help guide the process of policy formulation in the education sector.
Description
Keywords
Education planning, management and administration