School management committees and academic performance in public primary schools in Uganda; A case of Kalungu district local government

Abstract

The study examined the effect of School Management Committees (SMC) on the academic performance of Public Primary Schools in Kalungu District. Specific Objectives were, assess the relationship between financial management and academic performance, to evaluate the relationship between monitoring and supervision and academic performance, to establish the relationship between transparency and academic performance, to analyze the relationship between Accountability and academic performance in public primary schools in Kalungu District. The study adopted a cross sectional design with a qualitative approach to achieve the objectives of the study. The study sample was 285 respondents including School management committee (261), Head teachers or deputy head teachers (24), Questionnaires and documentary analysis were used for data collection. Data was analyzed using the SPSS computer software tool. The study revealed a positive and significant relationship between financial management and academic performance (r=.319), monitoring and supervision and academic performance (r=.319), transparency and academic performance (r=.297) and accountability and academic performance of public primary schools in Kalungu District (r=.297). The four variables explain 16.4% of the variance in academic performance. The study concludes that school management committees are largely relevant to the schools. Academic Performance of Pupils in Public Primary Schools is a key indicator that schools are doing well. The study has revealed positive and strong relations between effectiveness of school management committee, school environment and academic performance. The study recommends that all efforts possible should be made to ensure that SMC remain very effective as their ability to play their roles is a great determinant of academic performance; harmony should be maintained between the members of the school management committees ; Schools should do their best to harmonize the external and internal environment; The District education office should ensure that the supervision role is strengthened; learner‘s characteristics need to be constantly monitored and improved.