Factors influencing effectiveness of school management committees in public primary schools in Karemo Division, Siaya County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine factors influencing effectiveness of school management committees on management in public primary schools in Karemo Division, Siaya County, Kenya. The study strived to establish the level of awareness on the management skills by the school management committee members, determine the level of awareness on the roles and responsibilities of the SMC members, examine the impact of the relationship between SMC members and the school community and to investigate the level of accountability by the SMC members on the school funds. The study was guided by trait theory of leadership by Ralph Sogdill which traces back to the ancient Greeks and Romans based on characters. It postulates that leaders are born and not made.

The study targeted all the SMC members in the 55 primary schools in Karemo division, Siaya district. Every school has 15 members of the SMC adding up to 825 members in the division. A sample of 50 percent of the schools was selected using simple random sampling. Three members of the committee were also selected from each school using purposive sampling where the chairmen, treasurers and head teachers were selected using the criteria of their position in the school committee. The study used piloting to enhance content validity. The essence of piloting was to remove any ambiguity in the instrument so as to ascertain that it elicited what it was intended for.

The study used test-retest technique to ascertain the instrument reliability. The value of the reliability coefficient obtained was 0.85 which was considered reliable. Questionnaire instrument was used to collect the data where a response rate of 96.6% was achieved. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 17.0. The study concluded that though most of the SMC members had attended managerial courses only a few of them were competent. A small proportion of SMC members understand their roles and responsibilities and that most of the treasurers were weak in budget development.

The study recommends that the ministry of education should 'organize frequent courses and seminars to capacity build members of the SMCs and to capture those who are newly elected in the positions of leadership. That the legal documents and the Education acts are availed to the teachers especially the teachers code of regulations and KNEC act cap 225A. The sponsors should involve themselves more actively on the development issues in their institutions rather than provision of spiritual nourishment only. The treasurers of the SMCs be trained on the preparation of the school budget and financial management to increase their competence in their position and that the education qualifications of the SMC members be considered during their elections into the office.

Based on the findings of this study, the study recommended further research to be on the influence of SMC on schools performance in Karemo Division, Siaya county, Kenya, the influence of election mode on the effectiveness of SMCs in Karemo Division, Siaya county, Kenya and the influence of the provincial administration on the effectiveness of SMCs in Karemo division, Siaya county, Kenya.