Abstract:
The objective of this study was to assess themanagement and utilization of school grant in
secondary schools of Ilu Aba Bor zone. Descriptive survey method of research was used by
taking six sample woredas, ten secondary schools. Sampling techniques used were simple
random sampling and purposive sampling technique. The study was conducted in
10secondary schools that were drawn from a total of 15 schools in sampled woredas. The
data werecollectedthrough questionnaire, interview, and document analysis. School
principals, woreda education office planning expert and woreda office of finance and
economic development accountant and school grant fund budget expert, parent student and
teacher association and kebele education and training board representatives were primary
sources of data.The data were analyzed using frequency count, percentage and mean value
andnarratives. The finding point out that the problem of utilizing the budget according to
school grant guide line, there were a problem of managing the budget accordingly, current
practice of auditing, monitoring and capacity building concerning school grant were in
problem, challenges were lack of commitment of school committee, lack of financially trained
implementers, mismatch between school grant budget and school needs. In light of the
findings, the following conclusion were drawn: Currently the practices of school grant
budget management and utilization are in problem, Direct utilization of the school grant
budget for its intended purposes is under question. The extent of Monitoring and auditing the
school grant budget in school level were seemed very low. Lack of utilizing the budget
according to school grantguide line, lack of practice in auditing, monitoring, and capacity
building in school, lack of financially trained stake holders, mismatch between school grant
budget and school needs were major challenges that resulted ineffective utilization of school
grant budget. Therefore, in order to maximize school grant management and utilization and
to alleviate challenges encountered, the study forwarded the following recommendations:
Capacity building for resource management, Update and redistributed the school grant
guideline, hiring financially trained man power for the schools,Building trust through
transparency, Devising strategy to fill financial gap.
