Factors Influencing Effectiveness Of Financial Management In Secondary Schools In Kitui Central District Of Kitui County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing effectiveness of financial management in public secondary schools in Kitui central District Kitui County. The objectives of the study were: to determine the influence of principals’ financial management training on effectiveness of financial management in public secondary schools; to assess the influence of principals’ professional experience on effectiveness of financial management in public secondary schools; to establish the influence of principals’ education level on effectiveness of financial management in public secondary schools; to determine the influence of District Education office on effectiveness of financial management in public secondary schools and to investigate the influence of BOG/PTA on effectiveness of financial management in public secondary schools. The study used census sampling method in selecting the respondents to be included in the study. The study adopted descriptive survey design with both qualitative and quantitative data analysis approaches. The target population of the study included all the principals of the 25 public day secondary schools in Kitui central district Kitui County. Questionnaires were used as the main research instruments. Both descriptive and inferential statistics was used in data analysis. The mean, median, mode and percentages were used to analyze the data in order to meet the objectives of the study. Frequency tables were used to present the data followed by data interpretation and findings. Correlations and Analysis of variance was used to test the relationship between independent and dependent variables. The findings from this study are that: the principals’ training influences financial management to a very large extent and there is a very strong relationship between financial management training and effectiveness of financial management in secondary schools; the experience of a principal is very necessary in effectiveness of financial management and to a large extent the principals’ education level influences effectiveness of financial management and that the District Education Office and the Board of Governors influence principals’ financial management in public secondary schools. Further research can be done on the influence of Kenya Education Management Institute training on Principals’ financial management; the influence of Principals’ financial management on students’ performance in KCSE; the influence of Principals’ financial management on school physical facilities and the effect of District Quality Assurance and Standards Officer visits on principals’ financial management.