School Transport Outsourcing Among Private Primary Schools in Kitengela, Kajiado County, Kenya

Abstract

The study sought to explore school transport outsourcing practice among private primary schools in Kitengela. The study surveyed the models of school transport used in order to establish the extent of school transport outsourcing by collecting primary data through self-administered questionnaires and observations. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Although the study found in-house school transport more common, it was evident that outsourcing improves performance. Almost all the schools that were surveyed outsourced the service on need basis. The survey established some of the factors that influence the attitude toward school transport outsourcing as: loss of control, more cost, complexity of management, security concern, inconsistency, loss of the school’s positioning and lack of contractor’s keenness to the school administration’s interests of the school. The objectives of the study were to establish the extent of school transport outsourcing among private primary schools in Kitengela, determine factors influencing attitudes towards school transport outsourcing, establish the relationship between outsourcing and operational performance and establish the models of school transport that schools can use. This study recommends that school administration assess their operational environments in order to determine a transport model most suitable for them while ensuring that the function operates at peak. It further recommends that school administration must change their mind-sets about outsourcing and discover innovative ways for successful transport outsourcing which can improve their operational performance in the aspects of: focus, flexibility, cost reduction and customer satisfaction.