An assessment of the factors affecting the management of the free primary education funds: a case of selected public primary schools in Mombasa district.

Abstract

It was until January 2003 when the NARC government introduced the Free Primary Education (FPE). FPE was intended to benefit millions of poor children through the abolition of fees and levies, with this came many challenges that the government continues to face. The issue of proper management of the FPE funds has been of great concern. After its implementations the donors injected huge amount of funds. The research sought to find out the management of FPE funds. The research had five guiding objectives which included: To assess the influence of the headteachers skills on the efficiency of the management of free primary education funds, analyze the influence of planning in the management of free education funds, then to assess the influence of monitoring in the free primary education funds management and to determine the influence of evaluation in the management of free education funds. A descriptive survey research design was used to collect primary data. A pre- tested questionnaire was administered to target population through key information interviewees. A series of formal interviews, self administered questionnaire and stratified sampling was used to select one school from each zone. Purpose sampling was used to select government officials. The author gathered information through interviews conducted with head teachers, Deputy headteachers, chairpersons of SMC’S and municipal Education officer. The qualitative and quantitative data gathered through interviews , observation and focus group discussion during the research was analyzed through discussions, charts and tables and after comparison and categorizing common themes, it was used to help in final discussion and conclusions. Research findings showed that the Head Teachers, Deputy Head teachers, school management committee were all lacking the necessary skills to manage FPE funds efficiently. The head Teacher received inadequate training in financial management and also found that the process of managing FPE funds was too cumbersome and was being done at the expense of managing the school curriculum and other administrative duties. The results also indicated that planning monitoring and evaluation of FPE funds by the stake holders was very inefficient due to shortage of trained personnel. It was also evident that the parents were not involving themselves in the management of FPE funds because they had not been empowered. The results revealed that skills on managing funds by the head teachers and chairpersons of the SMCs had an effect on the progress of the school. The study revealed that at the ministry of education office in Mombasa there was great shortage of auditors and inspectors and this affected the planning monitoring and evaluation of FPE funds. The study recommended that the ministry of Education should enhance cost effective accounting procedures and strengthen financial management in the primary schools. The ministry of Education should also hire accountants who could efficiently manage FPE funds. Parents should also be sensitized on their role in their financial management of FPE and more auditors and inspectors should be hired to allow for frequent regular inspection. The study also recommended that funds allocation should be equitable and should be disbursed over the holidays to allow for planning and budgeting of the FPE funds. The research recommended that further research should be conducted to investigate the adequacy of FPE funds, Effects of Mismanagement of FPE funds and Challenges of Financing FPE.