Role of decentralized education system on decision making autonomy of heads of secondary schools in Ilala municipality

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Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
This study explored the role of decentralised education system on decision making autonomy of heads of secondary schools. The study was conducted in Ilala Municipality and had three specific objectives which are: to assess the autonomy of decision making of heads of secondary schools under the decentralised education system, to identify the effects of decentralised education system on heads of secondary schools’ decision making autonomy; and to explore the influence of other education stakeholders on the decision making autonomy of heads of secondary schools under the decentralised education system. The study employed qualitative research approach using a single case holistic design. Total participants of the study were 40 in the categories of 10 heads of secondary schools, 20 secondary school teachers, four school board chairpersons, one Municipal Secondary Education Officer (MSEO) and five councilors. Participants were selected using purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using interviews, open-ended questionnaires and documentary review. Data from interviews were analysed using thematic analysis technique and content analysis technique was employed for data from open-ended questionnaires and documentary review. Findings from the study revealed that under decentralised education system, decision making autonomy of heads of secondary schools varies depending on the nature of the decision to be made. This means, in deciding on matters involving students’ discipline, personnel management and school development programmes it was found that heads of secondary schools were semi-autonomous, while they were slightly autonomous to make decisions on issues involving school infrastructure. Furthermore, they were not autonomous to decide on such issues as students’ enrollment capacity and school budget requisition and allocation. Moreover, the study unveiled that decentralised education system has affected negatively the autonomy of heads of secondary schools in making decisions on various matters pertaining to school affairs. This is because, in many situations heads of secondary schools were interfered by various education stakeholders and they were accountable to multiple authorities. However, few positive effects which promoted the autonomy of heads of secondary schools were noted. The findings also revealed that other education stakeholders have negative and positive influence on the decision making autonomy of heads of secondary schools as they sometimes interfered or positively influence variously the decisions made by heads of secondary schools including giving advice to the school administration, supporting and encouraging some of the decisions, disagreement to some of the decisions as well as revoking some of the decisions. The study concludes that under the current decentralised education system heads of secondary schools are either semi autonomous, slightly autonomous or not autonomous depending on the issues involved for decisions. The study thus recommends that, there is a need for the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) to improve the autonomy of heads of secondary schools by giving them much more power in making decisions on various matters pertaining to school affairs, especially on matters which need immediate action.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF LB2862.T34.M36)
Keywords
Schools, Decentralization, School principals, Decision making, Ilala municipality, Tanzania
Citation
Manyama, A. K. (2016) Role of decentralized education system on decision making autonomy of heads of secondary schools in Ilala municipality, Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam