International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume VI, Issue XI, November 2022|ISSN 2454-6186
Influence of Government Financial Allocation on the Performance of Public Selected Secondary Schools
Ezekiel Kibet Tanui1, Dr. Jane Njoroge2*, Dr. Patrick Mbataru2*
1Ph.D. Student Kenyatta University, Kenya
2Kenyatta University, Kenya
*Corresponding Authors
Abstract: The main objective of this study was to determine the influence of fiscal policy on the performance of educational institutions in the North Rift region, specifically, in Nandi and Uasin Gishu Counties. The theories used to frame this work were the Resource Based View, Human Capital, and Contingency Theory. The study adopted an interpretive philosophical approach. The target population was 1,672 respondents from 278 public secondary schools. Using the Taro Yamane formulae, a 322-sample size was derived. The research used stratified sampling techniques. Self-administered questionnaires and interview schedules were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data. The study showed that financial policy influences the performance of public secondary schools. Public policy determines the government allocation to schools, the timing of the release of government funds, school fees revenue stream, and financial aid to needy students. The results also show that financial policy does influence the performance of educational institutions. The study recommends that both the national and county governments should ensure that the amount allocated to finance school programs is adequate considering the high enrolment rate due to the 100% transition policy. The National government should ensure that the disbursement of funds reaches the targeted schools within the stipulated time. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education should come up with appropriate strategies that ensure that the performance of the schools is not affected by unprecedented challenges brought about by pandemics such as COVID-19.
Keywords: government funding, secondary schools performance, the effectiveness of free secondary education
I. BACKGROUND
The effects and impact of funding attract research because of the crucial role education plays in society. The availability of resources for education can therefore influence the educational outcomes of a society. Unlike Countries in the West, Africa has continued to grapple with challenges in the performance of educational institutions despite efforts to develop education delivery (Conn, 2017). Kenya implemented free education in 2003 in an effort to shore up educational enrolment around the country. The government pledged to pay Kenya Shilling 1,420 per child. By 2022, two decades later, the challenges facing the free education were still aparent; inequity especially among marginalized groups, dropping out, dropping primary-secondary transition among others. In some of the marginalized areas, acute shortage of resources was notable (KNUT, 2019). Free education has led to overcrowding of schools with the situation aggravated with inadequate number