Evaluation of effectiveness of stakeholders’ collaboration on financing and resource mobilization of public primary schools in Nyakach sub-county, Kisumu county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of stakeholders’ collaboration on enhancing financing and resource mobilization in public primary schools in Nyakach Sub-county. The objectives of the study were to determine the existing forms of stakeholders’ collaboration in enhancing financing and resource mobilization, determine the indicators used to evaluate effectiveness of stakeholders’ collaboration on enhancing financing and resource mobilization and to determine the best practices of stakeholders’ collaboration on enhancing financing and resource mobilization in public primary schools in Nyakach sub-county. This study used a mixed methodology approach to collect and present data by combining elements of quantitative and qualitative research approaches for the purpose of depth understanding of the stakeholders’ collaboration. The study was a descriptive survey because the study was meant to ask a good number of people questions by use of questionnaires and interviews about the effectiveness of stakeholders’ collaboration effectiveness of stakeholders’ collaboration. Questionnaires and interview schedules instruments were used to collect data from the field. Stratified and random sampling was to collect data from the field. Stratified random sampling was used to select 10% or 14 schools from a population of 135 public primary schools in the Sub County as follows: Lower Nyakach which had the highest number of public primary schools (56primary schools) got 6 slots while Upper Nyakach which had the second highest (52 primary schools) got 5 slots while West Nyakach which had the lowest (27 primary schools) got 3 slots. Further, purposive sampling was used to select 140 Board of Management members as follows: the chairperson, treasurer, and the representatives of: the County Education Board[CEB](1),school sponsors(1), the special interest group (1), local administration (1) , student council (1) teacher representative (1) and Parents (2)from each of the fourteen sampled schools. To ensure validity, a pilot study was conducted among 8 BOM members and one head teacher from the neighbouring County. To test the reliability of the instruments, the researcher employed the test-retest during the pilot study where the questionnaires were administered and re-administered to the respondents after one week. Two sets of the questionnaires were analyzed and Pearson’s correlation coefficient calculated to establish the extent to which the contents of the questionnaires were consistent in eliciting the same respondents every time the instrument was administered. A correlation coefficient of 0.6 was got. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics with the aid of statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS) version 22. Qualitative data was presented using thematic analysis. The study established that a majority of public primary head teachers are not trained on school financial management and this has a negative influence on the ability of head teachers to manage school funds. There are inadequate teaching facilities-text books, classes and teachers, lack of enough furniture, inadequate sanitation for boys and girls, first aid kits and inadequate teachers’ houses. Finally, inadequate training in financial management, accountability, transparency, accessibility and governance were the factors influencing effective stakeholders’ collaboration. Th e st ud y fo und out t hat t he re are few stakeholders involved in financing and resource mobilization in primary schools with teachers unions like KUPPET and KNUT, Community based organizations, Neighbourhood self-help groups as well as civil societies completely lacking in Nyakach Sub County. The study recommends that schools should advocate for more stakeholders collaborative activities like motivational talks, book donation days, fund-raising ceremonies and alumni associations in order to enhance financing and resource mobilization in public primary schools.