Influence of Disbursement Time of Free Primary Education Funds on the Management of Schools by Head Teachers in Uasin Gishu County (Published)
The introduction of Free Primary Education (FPE) policy through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) in January 2003 in Kenya brought about overwhelming excitement among the public. The policy bore on poor families in particular who could now enroll their children having had no chance to learn due to lack of school fees. Implementation of the new policy directive however fall short of time for preparation resulting in various challenges among them, delayed disbursement of funds. This paper investigates the influence of time of disbursement of funds on the management of public schools by head teachers. The study focused on Uasin Gishu County adopting a cross-sectional survey design. The target population constituted all the 400 public primary school head teachers in Uasin Gishu County from which a sample of 200 respondents were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Questionnaires were used to collect data after which data was analysed using descriptive (frequencies and percentages) and inferential (Chi-square) statistics with tests done at 0.05 level of significance. The study found out that delay in disbursement of funds significantly influenced the management of schools by the head teachers. The study recommends timely disbursement of funds to schools to enable effective and efficient management
Keywords: Disbursement, Free Primary Education, Funds, Government Grants, Implementation
The Implementation of Hygiene Practices in Early Childhood Education Centers in Londiani Sub-County, Kericho County (Published)
Hygiene practices in Early Childhood Education are very essential. It helps the child to be strong, active, responsible, confident and perform well on the day to day activities. The study sought to investigate the implementation of hygiene practices in Early Childhood Education Centres. The study adopted the active learning instructional theory. The study used descriptive survey research design to investigate hygiene practices. The study was conducted in Londiani Sub-County, Kericho County. The target population comprised of eighty (80) early childhood educational centres out of which twenty four (24) were sampled for the study. The random sampling technique was used to sample twenty four (24) headteachers and forty eight (48. Research instruments included Questionnaires, Interviews and Observation schedules. Data was collected, then analyzed using descriptive statistics. The output was presented by the use of frequency tables, bar graphs and pie charts. The findings established that schools in Londiani have hygiene practices, but they are not fully implemented due to lack of proper facilities. The study concluded that toilets were dirty in majority of the centres which may affect the health status of the children causing absenteeism due to frequent sicknesses. The study recommended that County government be involved in supporting ECD centres to ensure that funding and purchase of proper facilities are made available in the schools.
Keywords: Hygiene, Implementation, Practices
Language in Education: Barriers and Bridges (Published)
This article explores the implementation of Ghana’s local language in education policy; how it has been received and practiced in public basic schools, and the major challenges and implications. Through the study, the author highlights critical issues within local education practices that suggest a mismatch between education language policy and classroom practice. It is suggested that one of the primary reasons for the poor performance in schools lies in the oral orientation to classroom practices at the foundation stage at the expense of literate ways of thinking and reasoning and that an emphasis on literacy in the mother tongue at the foundation stage may help to shift the focus on student academic development where it belongs.
Keywords: English Language, Implementation, Language policy, Literacy, Mother tongue
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS REQUIRED OF PRINCIPALS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAMME IN JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN EBONYI STATE OF NIGERIA (Published)
The study investigated the financial management skills required of principals for the implementation of the Universal Basic Education programme in Ebonyi State junior secondary schools. Three research questions and two null hypotheses were formulated for the study. The population of the study was 2,221 junior secondary school principals across urban and rural areas of the state. Disproportionate simple random sampling technique was used to select 1,000 junior secondary school principals for the study. The study adopted descriptive survey method. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire known as Financial Management Skills Questionnaire (FMSQ). Data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation. t-test statistic was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that junior secondary school principals require budgetary skills for financial management for the implementation of the UBE programme in Ebonyi State junior secondary schools. Based on the findings it was recommended among others that government should organize workshops and seminars for junior secondary school principals to update their knowledge more on financial skill management
Keywords: Implementation, Junior Secondary., Universal Basic, financial management
COMPARISON OF STANDARD FOUR PUPILS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PRIMARY SCHOOLS AFTER THREE YEARS OF FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION (F.P.E.) IMPLEMENTATION (Published)
In Kenya, basic education is provided through public and private institutions. . This paper focused on class 4 pupils admitted in class 1 the year 2003 when Free Primary Education (F.P.E.) programme was implemented. The purpose of this study was to compare the academic performance of these pupils in Private and Public Primary Schools. The research made use of ex post facto research design. Simple random sampling was used to select eight public and eight private primary schools in Kitale Municipality. A test was given to class four pupils of the year 2006 in both private and public primary schools and used to assess academic performance. The study used descriptive statistics to compute data for academic performance. The tests of significance showed disparity in academic performance of both boys and girls in private school from those of the public. There is need for education and policy assurance officers to step up inspection to enhance effectiveness among public primary school teachers.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Comparison, Free Primary Education, Implementation, Private Primary Schools, Public Primary Schools