Effectiveness of School Boards in Managing Financial and Human Resources in Public Primary Schools in Nyeri County, Kenya.

Abstract

Although Boards of Management (BOMs) have been mandated to oversee the running of public primary schools in Kenya, little has been documented as far as their effectiveness is concerned. This study sought to assess the effectiveness of School Boards in managing financial and human resources in public primary schools in Nyeri County, Kenya. The study was guided by Mintzberg Management Theory. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. Twenty-one head teachers and 196 BOM members drawn from 21 public primary schools in Nyeri County participated in the study. Data was collected using questionnaires for headteachers and members of BOMs. The study established that BOM members with background in financial management were more effective in overseeing the financial management of public primary schools. The study also established that BOMs oversaw the recruitment and allocation of duties to teaching staff and also took an active part in the recruitment and drafting of terms of service for the support staff. The study further established that BOMs were effective in the management of human resource in the schools. It was concluded that BOMs were effective in the management of public primary schools in the study area though they faced numerous challenges. The study recommended that the Ministry of Education should train BOM members on financial management skills since their work involved overseeing budgeting, procurement and payment of school expenditures.