Efficiency of income generating activities as an alternative funding for public secondary schools in Nairobi province

Abstract

The study intended to investigate the efficiency of income generating activities as alternative funding for public secondary schools in Nairobi province. Also identified were measures put in place to save on costs in the utilization of physical, human, financial and time resources. Research methodology involved survey design. It relied on questionnaire, interview and perusing of financial accounting documents like invoices, receipts, local purchase orders and ledger books. The target population was the forty six public schools in Nairobi province. There were five out of forty six secondary school that were randomly sampled for the pilot study. The five schools were also included in the study of the whole population. The research instrument was a questionnaire which had background, physical, human, financial and time management resources subheadings. Instrument validity was tested through the piloting of the five schools out of the forty six. Instrument reliability was also tested by carrying out interviews and perusing financial documents. Data analysis was done by use of descriptive statistics. The research findings were: first, there were income generating activities like school farms. Secondly some existing income generating activities are self sustaining like school farms. Thirdly the identified financial accounting documents kept by the schools included invoices, receipts, cash books, cheque books, trial balances, local purchase orders and ledger books. Finally efficiency of income generating activities as alternative funding for public secondary schools in Nairobi province were identified. Based on the data collected and analyzed it was evident therefore to draw a conclusion that there was efficiency of income generating activities as alternative funding for public secondary schools in Nairobi province. The recommendations included effective and efficient utilization of school resources involving the private sector to plough back their profits realized as a community service, provision of entertainment for instance plays and dinner dance at a cost. Construction of affordable houses for renting as a long term investment, tailored Information Communication Technology (lCT) training programmes for clients other than students at competitive market rates and enhancing the technical and science departments to be more creative and innovative by producing high quality products.