Administrative factors influencing the implementation of free secondary school education in public secondary schools in Makindu sub –county, Makueni County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the administrative factors influencing the implementation of free secondary education in public secondary schools in Makindu Sub – County, Makueni County. Four research objectives guided this study. The objectives sought to assess the influence of disbursement of funds on the implementation of free secondary education; determine the influence of school size on the implementation of free secondary education; establish the influence of availability of resources on the implementation of free secondary education and lastly assess the influence of principals‟ financial management skills on the implementation of free secondary education in public secondary schools in Makindu Sub – County, Makueni County. This study was based on the Capital Theory of School Effectiveness and Improvement. The target population comprised of all the 20 public secondary schools in the Sub - County comprising of 20 principals, 20 deputy principals and 100 heads of departments. The sample comprised of 20 principals, 20deputy principals and 30 heads of departments. The study used questionnaires to collect data. The study concluded that disbursement of funds and availability of resources influenced the implementation of free secondary education in public secondary schools. The study also concludes that principals‟ financial management skills and school size did not statistically influence the implementation of free secondary education in public secondary schools. The study recommends that t he government should disburse adequate funds so the principals are able to implement the curriculum. The government should and disburse the funds in good time so that the principals are able to plan and implement school programmes in good time. The princi pals should be trained so that they are able to manage the school funds effectively. Taking the limitations and delimitations of the study, I suggest that study on principals‟ characteristics on the implementation of FSE should be conducted. A study on influence of parental participation in school development and its influence of FSE implementation should be conducted and lastly a study on school factors that influence the implementation of FSE should be conducted.