MANAGING SCHOOL FINANCES: PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF GOVERNING BODY MEMBERS IN SCHOOLS IN AN INFORMAL SETTLEMENT

Yıl 2018, Cilt: 10 Sayı: 2, 78 - 91, 31.12.2018

Patrick Mafora

Öz

The South African Schools Act (84 of 1996) decentralises school governance and
assigns the management of school finances to their respective governing bodies.
In line with the specific classification of each school, school governing bodies are
assigned the same functions irrespective of the location of the school, its size and
complexity, or the profile of their members. Given their different operational
contexts, the extent to which school governing bodies discharge their assigned
duties and responsibilities with desired effectiveness differs.
This paper is drawn from a qualitative multi case study on shared decision-making
in five Soweto secondary schools. The paper is, restricted to findings with regard
to two secondary schools based in the informal settlement area of the township
and the research question: how do parent members of the school governing body
perceive and experience their role in managing school finances? The analysis of
data followed Tesch’s steps for open coding. It emerged from the analysis of data
that parent-members of SGBs had limited understanding of what constitutes their
role and responsibilities regarding the management of school finances. They also
lack the capacity to discharge their assigned duties and responsibilities. The
effective management of school finances in the SGB is further hampered by the
poor internal support structures, and undemocratic practices among SGB
members. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

informal settlement, school governance, financial management

Kaynakça

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