National norms and standards for school funding policy in the Bophirima Region : does it achieve its objectives?

Abstract

The intention of this study was to gather data on issues and challenges on policy implementation with specific reference to national norms and standards for school funding as a policy and ultimately to come up with recommendations, which would help in resolving the implementation problems. Literature study was conducted to find out the intention of the state in introducing this policy. The study was focused in the Bophirima region, which consists of five area project offices. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used to gather the data. The total population was 470 principals from whom 71 principals were sampled. From 71 principals sixty returned copies of questionnaire. Face to face interviews were also conducted and five principals and officials from the department participated. The findings reflected that there were serious problems with regard to implementation of national norms and standards for school funding. These problems among others included late payments to section 21 schools; partial delivery of orders for non-section 21 schools, forfeiture of balances at the end of the year; lack of response from the area project offices when queries on norms and standards were submitted; and insufficient funds for learner support material. From empirical studies it is recommended that:

► Norms and standards allocations should be paid to schools on semester basis instead of quarterly so that in the interim queries can be attended to. ► A person responsible for norms and standards should be appointed at every area project office, who would be responsible for a small number of schools than when there is one at regional office only. ► When schools have not received all their allocations for norms and standards as per budget, the balance should be rolled over to the following year since the financial year for the government ends in March, so it is not going to temper with the annual budget of the Provincial Education Department.