Perspectives on contribution of the Catholic Church to management of public Catholic sponsored Secondary schools in Kisii central sub - county, Kenya

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Kenya’s Basic Education Act 2013 empowers religious sponsors to participate in appointment of principals, provision, of instructional, financial and infrastructural resources to the schools they sponsor. In Kisii Central Sub-County, the Catholic Church participates in management of 29(39.7%) secondary schools. However, queries were being raised on the current contribution of the church as it had come to the fore that most sponsored schools were experiencing crises that had tended to be linked to the church’s participation in management. For instance, out of 29 principals in the sub-county, 18(62.07%) new principals; 23 (79.31%) deputy principals and 5 (17.24%) BOM chair persons were rejected by the church from assuming their positions between 2010 - 2013 in the Sub-County which was higher compared to neighbouring Sub-Counties, that is, Marani 1(4.54%) and Kisii South 2 (7.41%) Principals; while Masaba 3 (12%) and Sameta 3 (13.04%) both involving BOM. The purpose of the study therefore was to establish the contribution of the Catholic Church to management of public secondary schools in Kisii Central Sub - County, Kenya. Objectives of the study were to; establish the contribution of Catholic Church to instructional resources, determine the contribution of the Catholic Church to financial resources, ascertain the contribution of the Catholic Church to infrastructural development and find out the contribution of the Catholic Church in appointment of administrators to management of public secondary schools in Kisii Central Sub - County. Conceptual framework shows that the Catholic Church plays an integral part in the provision of instructional resources, financial resources and management, infrastructural development and appointment of school administrators. The study employed descriptive survey design. The study targeted 132 respondents in 32 public Catholic Church sponsored secondary schools within Kisii Central Sub-County. The population comprised of 29 principals, 29 deputy principals, 29 BOM chair persons, 29 PA chair persons, 1 Education Secretary, 1 Staffing officer, 1 SCQASO and 1 SCDE. Saturated sampling technique was used to select the respondents. The study used questionnaires, interview schedules and document analysis guides to collect data. Face validity of the instruments was determined by the help of experts in the field. Reliability coefficient of 0.79 was obtained for the questionnaire hence the instrument was reliable for the study. The quantitative data was analyzed using frequency counts, means and regression analysis. Qualitative data obtained through the use of interview schedules was transcribed and analyzed thematically as themes and sub-themes emerged. Findings indicated that the Catholic Church contribution to instructional resources was 50.8% in terms of lab equipment, text books and teaching materials; financial support for administrative support, motivation and student bursaries was 27.7%; infrastructural development in terms of classrooms and land was 36.4% and appointment of school administrators was 25.0%; was significant and had positive influence on management Quality Index. The study concluded that the Church contributed moderately to instructional resources and low to financial and infrastructural resources and appointments. The study recommended that: The Catholic Church should contribute more to instructional materials compared to the others as it has direct impact to school management Quality Index; and come up with income generating activities to supplement the fees paid. The study may be useful to educational planners and policy makers and educational secretariat of the Catholic Church in improvement of management of public secondary schools in Kenya.