School community members’ perceptions on effectiveness of school board in enhancing secondary school performance in Tanzania: the case of secondary schools in Mwanza City
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Date
2009
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Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
This research aimed at examining school community members’ perceptions towards School Boards as management organs at school level and the extent to which such Boards have contributed to the prevailing trend of Tanzanian secondary education system. Mwanza City in Mwanza Region was used as a study area. Board members, school heads, teachers, parents, non-teaching staff and students formed the sample for the study. The study adopted mainly qualitative research approach.Qualitative information collected through interviews and documentary review were subjected to content analysis and used to provide in-depth insights on the study objectives. Quantitative data collected through questionnaires were tallied; frequencies and percentages were calculated and presented in tabular form. Literature review showed that the School Board is legally responsible for all school operations; including decision-making, planning, organizing, coordinating, staffing, directing, controlling, reporting, budgeting and communication. School Boards have to ensure that schools become administered efficiently and effectively by setting laws and regulations to be applied within the entire school community. Contrary to this, research findings revealed that School Boards’ contributions to secondary school improvement is minimal because Board members are not involved fully in every issue that occurs at schools. Thus, there is a big negative attitude from school communities toward School Boards’ effectiveness in implementing their school obligations. Problems that contribute towards the prevailing ineffective trend of School Boards’ participation in Secondary education are associated with lack of professional background in education, poor representativeness, economic problems, lack of commitment, lack of motivation and lack of managerial skills among Board members. For better trend of collaborative leadership in secondary education, a shared commitment in school management and administration is needed. School Boards should be well informed about their school responsibilities so as to be effective in enhancing schools’ performance socially and academically for school community members’ benefits.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library
Keywords
School community members’, School boards, Secondary school performance, Mwanza city, Tanzania
Citation
Kakyama, J. L (2009) School community members’ perceptions on effectiveness of school board in enhancing secondary school performance in Tanzania: the case of secondary schools in Mwanza City, Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam.