The importance of school management in ensuring sustainable financial resource management in six secondary schools of Nakonde district in Muchinga province, Zambia.
Date
2022-06-30
Authors
Ngoma, Mwanshima Patricia
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
The study sought to explore the importance of school management in ensuring sustainable
financial resource management in secondary schools of Nakonde district in Muchinga
Province. The objectives of the study were to identify tasks performed by school management
in ensuring sustainable financial resource management; ascertain local initiatives used by
school management in promoting sustainable financial resource management; establish
challenges faced by school management in ensuring sustainable financial resource
management and; propose possible solutions to overcome challenges faced by school
management in ensuring sustainable financial resource management. The study employed a
descriptive research design based on the case study of six public secondary schools. Data was
collected using interview and focus group discussion guides. The sample was 36 respondents
comprising 6 head teachers, 6 planning officers, 18 heads of department and 6 accounting
officers. Data was analysed using thematic analysis where emerging themes with similar
attributes were categorised. The study revealed that head teachers performed various financial
management tasks which included planning and budgeting, organizing, and controlling
expenditure of financial resources. The study also revealed that there were some local
initiatives which were being used by school management in promoting sustainable financial
resources. These included tendering maize fields, running school tuck shops, selling school
T/shirts, pork rearing and vegetable growing. The study further revealed that school
management faced challenges in ensuring sustainable financial resource management and
these included inadequate training in financial management skills, inadequate funding and
nonpayment of school fees by most pupils. The study also highlighted possible solutions to
overcoming the challenges faced by school management in ensuring sustainable financial
resource management which included training of head teachers in financial management,
understanding the limitations and financial flexibility of the school, reviewing school income
and expenditure regularly, adhering to financial regulations and putting in place budget
controls. The study recommended that the Ministry of General Education should ensure that
school managers are trained in financial management to ensure full accountability and prudent
financial management; school management should ensure that all school departments and
other stakeholders engage in diversified local initiatives to enhance sustainable financial
resource management; the government should ensure that there was adequate funding and
school management needed to explore ways of providing solutions to address various
challenges faced in relation to sustaining financial resource management .
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Schools--Accounting.