Secondary Schools’ Strategies in Maintenance of Physical Facilities on Costs of Education in Western Region, Kenya

Abstract

Physical facilities are vital in the learning process in educational institutions. Governments as well as other stake holders invest heavily in them. It is therefore necessary that there is proper maintenance of the same to reduce recurrent costs in education which remain a hindrance to learners’ participation. This study therefore investigated secondary schools’ strategies in maintenance of physical facilities on costs in education in Western Region, Kenya. Four objectives guided the study; to find out the extent to which secondary schools hire personnel, organize for capacity building of personnel, as well as how they supervise and monitor maintenance of physical facilities. The study was eclectic utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The research design used was a descriptive survey which covered 92 secondary schools drawn from 8 selected sub counties of Western Region. Primary data was collected from a sample of 460 respondents, who included 92 head teachers, 92 deputy head teachers, 92 stores clerks, and 92 class prefects selected through purposive and simple random sampling methods. Data was collected through questionnaires, interviews, direct field observation and document analysis. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics involving frequencies and percentages.  The study found out that: secondary schools do not hire qualified personnel nor organize for capacity building of their personnel for maintenance of physical facilities through training workshops, seminars, and expert talks; those charged with the responsibility of supervising and monitoring the usage of the facilities do not adequately supervise maintenance of physical facilities’ activities through such activities as planning, formulation of policies on maintenance, allocation of duties on maintenance, motivation of personnel, and provision of adequate materials for maintenance.  They do not monitor maintenance of physical facilities through personal inspections, stock taking nor preparation of maintenance records. This shortfall resulted into schools incurring huge budgets in maintenance of school plant.