Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to compare the material resource management in government
and private primary schools of Jimma Zone. To this end, the study used a cross-sectional
survey design comprising of questionnaire, interview, FGD, observation and document
analysis. To collect relevant data on the topic, the study carried out in 10 primary schools of
Jimma Zone of 165 sampled but the data was collected from teachers (n=139), principals
(n=6), CRC supervisors (n=3), PTSAs (n=2) and KETBs (n=2). In this study, descriptive and
inferential statistics were used for quantitative analysis and thematic analysis was used for
the qualitative one. As the finding revealed, the material resource management as well as the
material utilization of private school was better than the government schools. The observed
mean difference was statistically significant. The way the school control and evaluate the
material resources, participation of teachers in the planning process was comparatively poor
in government primary school. The PTSAs and KETBs did not appropriately follow the
storage, allocation, utilization of material resources as well as the monitoring and
controlling mechanisms of the material resources in the government primary schools of
Jimma Zone. In addition, the government primary schools were not well equipped with
facilities like models, charts, etc in the pedagogical center that can aid the teaching and
learning process. In many government schools, there was shortage of assigned bodies that
manage the school materials. Moreover, the absence of purchasing committee, lack of an
assigned body to control the availability and utilization of educational materials, lack of
material resource management guideline and models/letters used to register incoming and
used materials affect the effectiveness of the material resource management. The lack of
minuets (meeting agendas) that show the decision of the PTSA to buy material resources and
inability of the PTSAs and KETBs to discharge their responsibilities in government primary
schools were also among the challenges. To alleviate the challenges, the PTSAs KETBs,
supervisors, principals and WEO should discharge their responsibilities, which is expected
from them and need to pay attention for the material resource utilization than everything else
is very important for the effectiveness of the material resource management.
