Influence of Schools’ Management Financial Preparedness on the Implementation of Competence Based Curriculum in Public Primary Schools in Kirinyaga West Sub-county, Kirinyaga County, Kenya

Abstract

The competency-based curriculum (CBC) is presently being implemented in public primary schools in Kenya. Yet, empirical evidence indicates that schools’ management faces a lot of challenges, hence making it very difficult for the implementation of the new programme. The study sought to explore the influence of schools’ management financial preparedness on implementation of CBC in Kirinyaga west subcounty, Kirinyaga County, Kenya. The study was anchored on Curriculum Implementation Theory, Theory of Organizational Readiness for Change, and Kurt Lewin Change Management Model. The study adopted mixed method approach, which allowed concurrent triangulation of data where both quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used. Target population comprised 68 headteachers, 1,020 teachers, 15, 500 CBC pupils and 4 sub-county education officials totaling to 16,592 respondents. Yamane Formula was used to sample 399 respondents that were identified using purposive and stratified random sampling techniques. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from teachers whereas an interview guide was used to collect qualitative data from head teachers and subcounty education official. Quantitative data was organized and processed descriptively and inferentially using SPSS (version 23) and presented using frequency tables. Linear regression was carried out under inferential statistics. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic content analysis technique and presented using narratives. All research protocols were observed throughout the study, including obtaining all relevant authorizations and observing respect for the participants. The study established that schools’ financial preparedness has significant influence on the implementation of the CBC in public primary schools in Kenya. The study recommended that there is need for the government to provide enough financial resources for implementation of the CBC. School managers should be trained on how to mobilize financial resources to complement government efforts.