The Role of Principal in School Financial Management: The Current Status. A Case Study in Four Public Secondary Schools in Zoba Debub, Eritrea

Abstract

The study attempted to examine the role of principal in school financial management practices. The main objective of the study was to discover the role of principal in school financial management by reviewing relevant literatures as to understand and have clue on the status of the principals’ ability to manage it properly. The roles of school principal in the study had inferred from their inputs to different questions associated with financial management. Their activities were considered ranging from the budget obtaining and its monitoring to reserving, reporting and recording evidences of expenditure. The study was carried out in four public secondary schools in Southern region, Eritrea. The principal of each school was participated in the study. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used with questionnaire as instrument. To consolidate results personal observation and informal questioning to principals also included in analysis. Descriptive analysis based on frequency and percentage was used to analyze close-ended items while open-ended items were analyzed through narrative analysis. The study showed that schools mostly depended on an income from the community mainly through student tuition. However, the study revealed that parents take time to raise little fund for schools by which the Principals confront shortage of budget, and similarly, little aid from the Ministry; All schools have account and deposits in the bank but most of the schools found have no budget calendar to plan and spend financial cost; Financial reporting was done on monthly basis; Little knowledge and training was troublesome to principals especially, the PTA members in financial management. The study recommended there should be updated financial management training for principals, administrators and cashiers.

Keywords: school, financial management, budget, Principal’s role, decentralization, delegation