Influence of board of managements’ financial management on public secondary schools in Westlands district, Nairobi county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of Board of Managements’ financial management on public secondary schools in Westlands District, Nairobi County, Kenya. Four objectives guided the study; to determine the extent to which Board of Management members’ level of education, Board of Management members’ professional status, Board of Management members’ gender and the nature of job done influence financial management in public secondary schools in Westlands District, Kenya. The literature reviewed covered studies on Board of Management competence in financial management, influence of level of education, professional status, BOM gender and nature of job done on BOMs’ financial management, framework and conceptual framework. The study targeted 10 secondary schools, 150 BOM members, 245 teachers and the DEO in Westlands District, Nairobi County. The sample size was made of 86 teachers; 43 male and 43 female, and 30% of the 150 BOM members to involve 45 BOM members and the one DEO. Questionnaires for teachers and an interview guide for data from the BOM members and DEO was collected through interview schedule. Reliability analysis was done through test-retest method. Pearson’s product moment’s correlation was used to test reliability. Validity was ensured through discussion with the experts including supervisors and colleagues. Primary data was collected and analyzed using quantitative and qualitative techniques and presented in tables and graphs. Secondary data was obtained from journals and schools data base. Data collected was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics that included frequency tables and thematic statistics were used. This assisted in determining the level of influence the independent variables have on the dependent variable. This study may be significant in that it makes the Ministry of Education, teacher training institutes and Board of Management, the head teachers aware on factors influencing BOM in financial management in public secondary schools. The findings indicated that Board of Management members’ level of education, Board of Management members’ professional status, Board of Management members’ gender and the nature of job done had positive influence on the effectiveness of BOMs financial management. The findings of this study may provide information on the role of BOM on financial management. The BoM members’ should be sensitized on the importance of higher level of education on financial management in schools. They should be encouraged to enroll for developing courses on financial management to better their knowledge and help them in financial management in public secondary schools.