The role of sponsors participation in management of public secondary schools in Maara District, Tharaka Nithi County-Kenya

Abstract

This research attempts to investigate the role of sponsors participation in management of public secondary schools in Maara District. The purpose of the investigation was specifically to establish the role played by these sponsors in participation of leadership, financing, upholding religious traditions and provision of physical and material support in the schools they sponsor. The research used survey design to collect the data from the members of population. Stratified random sampling was used whereby the schools were stratified in terms of religious sponsors. Open ended and close ended questionnaire items were administered to 40 public secondary schools head teachers and four religious school sponsors, while an interview was conducted with the District Education Officer (D.E.O). Statistical Package for Social Science Software Program (SPPS) was used to analyze the data. Findings indicated that religious school sponsors were actively involved in upholding religious traditions of their schools through pastoral programs and support of other religious activities. These activities include pastoral counseling, seminars, spiritual retreats, Sunday service among others. The data collected also reviewed that sponsors were not contented with the role assigned to them in the Education Act. The study recommends that religious school sponsors should take part in spiritual, financial and infrastructural development of school they sponsor in order to maintain sponsors interests and that the Education Act should be reviewed to clearly outline the roles of sponsor in public secondary schools