The effectiveness of decentralization: the case of school committees

This study investigated the effectiveness of decentralization in the case of school committees of the Tanzanian government primary schools. The study was guided by the following objectives: (i) to examine the contributions of school committees towards enhancing democratic participation and (ii) to evaluate the impact of school committees in the efficient running of schools. The study was guided by two research questions; (i) to what extent does school committees enhance democratic participation in the society and (ii) to what extent do school committees positively contribute to the efficient running and development of the schools? The study used both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. Interview and questionnaire methods were used in the study to obtain information. Purposive sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents from which the researcher would obtain information. The researcher used convenient sampling method in selecting the schools from which the respondents were obtained. The study has been informed by the contingency theory of management.