The challenges of managing no-fee schools: a case study of two no-fee schools.
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Date
2013
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Abstract
This study investigated the challenges experienced by the principals and the finance committees in managing no-fee schools. A case study was conducted in two secondary schools from Scottburgh circuit in Ugu District of KwaZulu-Natal. The aims of this study are to explore the challenges experienced by the principals, SOB chairpersons and treasurers in managing no-fee schools and to establish suggested solutions offered by the participants to the challenges they experienced in managing no-fee schools. This qualitative study was set in the interpretivist paradigm. The data generation tools used are the semi-structured interviews and documents review. The two theories which underpin this study are formal theory and structural theory. A review of international, national and local literature on the challenges of managing no-fee schools has shown that same challenges are being experienced in different countries. The findings of this study are that the general understanding of the participants of the no-fee schools policy is that it is meant to provide fee education especially for the poor. They also raised some challenges in managing no- fee schools such as the gap created by not collecting school fees. No-fee schools are directed on how to use their school allocation which they feel it restricts them. Furthermore. Late deposits of funds by the DoE. the policy takes away the culture of paying from the parents. Finally they offered the solutions to the challenges such as the provision of infrastructure to no-fee schools.
Some of the recommendations based on the findings are that the contents of the no-fee schools policy should be revised in consultation with the SGBs and school management teams. The amount of money given to no-fee schools should be based on the school needs not the number of learners in the school. Thereafter the no-fee school will be able to provide quality education.
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Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.