The Management and Utilization of School Grant In Secondary School of Ilu Aba Bor Zone

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.