The effects of Financial constraints on school Management ; A case study of secondary schools in Gatundu South Sub County, Kiambu County

Abstract

The study aimed at investigating the impact of financial constraints on school management in secondary schools in Gatundu South Sub-county, Kiambu County. A financial constraint is recognized to affect the general management of schools which will impact on performance. In Kenya today, the school principals have always decried shortage of finances in their schools of concern, while the government insist that the situation is not bad in the current years. The objective of the study was to; find the nature of problems principals currently experience in relation to financial constraints. To establish adequacy of school finances in public day secondary schools. To find out impact of finances to school management. The research questions to the study were involved in investigation of what problems are currently faced by principals in relation to financial constraints; how adequate is financing in day public secondary schools; what is the impact of finances to school management. The research will be of great important to Ministry of Education, principals, Students, Boards of Management among others. The researcher employed descriptive survey design and it targeted secondary schools in Gatundu South whereby 45 schools were involved in the study. The researcher used questionnaire to collect data which was analyzed in tables of frequencies and charts quantitively.The data collected established that there is a strong relationship between school management by the principals and inadequate finances. The main challenges that were identified were; fee defaulting by parents who fail to pay their fees arrears as stipulated in fee structure guide, delay in disbursement of F.S.E funds was another challenge as it affects preparation of budget. Public secondary schools are not also popular and affordable but are also solution to myriad problems experienced in most schools The study recommended that, the government should increase schools grants, inclusion of budget line, sensitizing of different actors to aid school financially, timely disbursement of F.S.E funds among others. The study subsequently recommends for future studies in the whole county and also to be extended to private secondary schools.