Funds management and operational performance in Universal Secondary Education schools in Mukono district, Uganda

Abstract

Remarkable operational performance in schools is crucial towards achieving excellent educational outcomes and ensuring overall school functioning. The study aimed to establish the influence of funds management on operational performance in Universal Secondary Education Schools in Mukono District, Uganda. It was guided by three objectives: To establish the relationship between budgeting, internal control systems, book-keeping and operational performance in USE schools. A total of 9 schools were selected and data was collected from them. The study adopted the quantitative approach and the correlational cross-sectional design was employed. Data was collected from Head Teachers, Directors of Studies, Bursars and Teachers comprising 132 participants using self-close-ended questionnaires. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and linear regression. The key findings indicate that two aspects of funds management namely; Budgeting (β = 0 .185, p = 0.046 < 0.05) and book-keeping (β = 252, p = 0.000 < 0.04) had a positive and significant association with operational performance in USE schools. However, internal control systems (β = 0 .153, p = 0.130 > 0.05) had a positive but insignificant relationship with operational performance. The research concluded that budgeting was paramount in boosting operational performance, low internal control systems impeded operational performance and book-keeping was important in supporting operational performance in schools. Therefore, the study recommended that Head teachers should adhere to participatory budgeting by involving user departments to improve accountability, conform to funds allocation guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education to improve delivery of priority needs and ensure that proper records of cash flow are maintained to ascertain financial position at every point in time. The Ministry of Education should increase staffing in schools to support delineation of roles to improve check and balances in operations. The Ministry of Education should also deploy Procurement Officers in schools to support realization of value for money in procurement functions.