Effects of procurement strategies of instructional materials on quality education in public secondary schools; a case of Turkana central sub-county, Turkana county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determine procurement strategies of instructional materials on quality education in public secondary schools in Turkana Central Sub-County. The specific objectives were: to examine the nature of procurement strategies among the public secondary schools, to analyze the types of procurement strategies on quality education among public secondary schools, to investigate the contributions of standardized procurement strategies among public secondary schools and to establish whether the current polices ensure quality education among public secondary schools in Turkana Central Sub-County. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The study used a target population of one hundred and fifty respondents from the management and stakeholders of government secondary schools. The population was reduced to a sample by use of cluster random sampling. The sample size was forty percent of the target population; this assured study feasibility as it is representative. The study collected data from sampled respondents by use of questionnaires. The collected data was analyzed by use of SPSS version 21 and presented using tables. The study found that Suppliers bargaining power; Knowledge of Supply Markets; Management purchasing Decisions and Business Strategy are the areas in which school makes considerations in the process of procurement of Communication strategies, Time saving strategies, Anti-corruption strategies, Training strategies; Cost sharing strategies and Community participation strategies are the areas through which types of procurement strategies used by public secondary schools in to increase efficiency in the procurement of instructional materials. JIT, Kaizen, ERP and TQM are used as procurement management strategies. Standardized Procurement Procedures increases efficiency; reduces the level of delay; leads to stakeholder satisfaction and community relations. Ministry, Board of Governors, Parents, Teachers Association, and head teachers Influence Procurement Polices. Lack of political goodwill; ineffective human resource policies; unhealthy stakeholders’ culture and nature of materials procured are the challenges facing public schools in Turkana County. The study concluded that schools in Turkana make considerations in the process of procurement, different types of procurement strategies leads to efficiency in procurement of instructional materials in public Schools in Turkana, public schools in Turkana County use JIT, Kaizen, ERP and TQM as procurement management strategies, Standardized Procurement Procedures: increases efficiency; reduces the level of delay; leads to stakeholder satisfaction and leads to community relations and that the Ministry, Board of Governors, Parents, Teachers Association, and head teachers influence Procurement Polices and that lack of political goodwill; ineffective human resource policies; unhealthy stakeholders’ culture and nature of materials procured are the challenges facing public schools in Turkana County. The study recommend that the procurement department needs to make adequate research in identifying the suppliers who are offering the products at lowest cost and therefore make right decision, a combination of the different procurement strategies is appropriate in making school efficient in procurement of instructional materials, application of Standardized Procurement Procedures. The study recommend for the enhancement of harmony among procurement stakeholders who influence Procurement Polices and enhancement for political harmony, training of human resource and upgrade of human policies and creating a culture of harmony among stakeholders.