Influence of government funding on the internal efficiency in provision of education in public secondary schools in Nyandarua West District, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of government funding on internal efficiency in provision of education in public secondary schools in Nyandarua West district, Kenya with a view of finding out the adequacy of educational resources. The study was guided by four research objectives which were: to determine how the provision of instructional materials and infrastructure through government funding has affected internal efficiency in public secondary schools in Nyandarua West district; to assess how remuneration of teachers by the government has influenced internal efficiency in the district and to examine the challenges faced by the head teachers in the utilization of the government funds in public secondary schools in Nyandarua West district.

The study used descriptive survey design. The target population was all the students, teachers and head teachers in the 12 public secondary schools in Nyandarua West district. The study targeted 5009 students, 154 teachers and 12 head teachers from whom 10 head teachers and 40 teachers and 500 (10% of 5000) students were sampled for the main study. This study used questionnaires to collect data from head teachers, students and teachers. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics for analysis.

The study established that majority (80%) of the sampled schools experienced absenteeism of students mainly due to lack of levies, an indication of inadequate funding from the government to ensure availability of enough teaching and learning resources. The study also found out that majority of the sampled schools had a challenge of instructional materials. It also found out that most schools had improved on provision of adequate infrastructure through the government funding. The research further found out that majority of the teachers was dissatisfied with the remuneration from the government.

The study established some challenges that the head teachers faced in the utilization of the government funds which included among others, delay in the funds disbursement and inadequate funding. From the study findings, the study concludes that provision of instructional materials through government funding affected performance in the schools. The provision of school infrastructure through government funding affected participation of students and that remuneration of teachers by the government affected the teaching and learning and therefore performance. The study therefore recommends that the government through the Ministry of education allocate more funds for infrastructure to curb the problem of inadequate infrastructure and instructional materials. More studies are done on the influence of government funding on internal efficiency in public institutions at District, Provincial and National level.