Factors influencing individual board of Management members' role in implementting educational policy at public secondary schools in Rarienda sub county, Kenya

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to establish factors influencing individual board of management member’s role in implementing educational policy at public secondary schools in Rarieda Sub County, Kenya. The Research Objectives were: to determine how Board members school management experience influence Education policy implementation at public secondary schools in Rarieda Sub County, to investigate how Board members training influence Education policy implementation at public secondary schools in Rarieda Sub County, to establish how Board members professional qualification influence Education policy implementation at public secondary schools in Rarieda Sub County and to examine the challenges faced by Board members and how it influences Education policy implementation at public secondary schools in Rarieda Sub County. The study was conducted using descriptive survey design with both quantitative and qualitative type of data. The population of this study comprised 24 secondary schools in Rarieda Sub County with a total population of 242 Board of management members (Siaya County Education Office, 2015). The sample size was 154 respondents. The study used stratified sampling technique and purposive sampling technique to select the respondents. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical analysis techniques, while qualitative data was analyzed through a thematic framework. The findings of the first study objective indicate that the respondents had varying experiences in school management thus varied opinions were generated as presented in the study. The findings of the second objective established that majority of BOM members participated in training on school education policy implementation. The findings of the third objective established that BOM professional qualification had an effect on Education policy implementation with majority of the respondents supporting the same. The first objective concluded that, school management experience was important with regard to education policy implementation by school board members and selection of board members should also consider past experience. In the second objective, the study concluded that training of board members is very necessary especially with the changing times, and adopting the best practices on school management. In the third objective, the study concludes that; the board members professional qualification brought synergy to the board team thus creating effectiveness. This study recommends on the first objective that board members selection consider, management experience this would reinforce education policy implementation at school level. This study recommends on the second objective that the Ministry of Education should develop a training curriculum for Board members. On the third objective, it is recommended that on appointment to the Board, professional qualifications should be considered during the recruitment of such members.