Records Management Practices and School Management Decisions in Selected Secondary Schools in Kibuku District Eastern Uganda

Abstract

The study examined the effect of records management practices on school management decisions in selected secondary schools in Kibuku District, Eastern Uganda. The objectives of the study included; to establish the effect of records management practices on academic decisions in selected secondary schools, to examine the effect of records management practices on administrative decisions in selected secondary schools, and to establish the effect of records management practices on financial decisions in selected secondary schools. A cross-sectional survey design was used to guide this study. The target population comprised of; head-teachers, IT technicians, Library assistants, deputy head-teachers, directors of studies, and teachers totaling to 113 respondents. These were purposively and simple randomly selected. The questionnaires, interview guide and focus group discussion helped in collecting the data. Quantitatively data was analyzed by use of frequencies and percentages as well as inferential analysis by use of SPSS, whereas, qualitatively data was analyzed using thematic content analysis. The study findings revealed that records management practices have a significant effect on academic decisions in selected secondary schools in Kibuku district (r= .686**, p=0.001). The study also revealed that records management practices have a significant effect on administrative decisions in selected secondary schools in Kibuku district (r= .342**, p=0.001). Study findings revealed that records management practices have a significant effect on financial decisions in selected secondary schools in Kibuku district (r=0.589**, p=0.002). The study concluded that records management practices in administrative and financial decisions had the highest significant positive relationship on the school management decisions in secondary schools. It was also concluded that records management practices have a significant effect on academic decisions, administrative decisions and financial decisions. The study recommended that records management practices should be improved through introduction of computerized formants such as e-payment of fees, and digitized systems to check teachers‟ class attendance.