The Role of Religious Sponsors in Public SecondarySchools in Murang'a South District

Abstract

This study sought to explore the roles of religious sponsors in public secondary schools in Kandara Division of Murang'a South District in Central Province, Kenya. The data was collected by way of face-to-face interviews and note taking in real life settings where the researcher went to the natural settings of the respondents. There were thirty-two respondents sampled from eight secondary schools. Each school had a principal, a governor, a pastor representing the sponsor, and a student as respondents. These responses were tape-recorded or jotted down and later analyzed. The findings of this study demonstrate the roles of the religious sponsors in public secondary schools. The data revealed that the religious sponsors' role was not just a requirement for being there or sticking to old traditional perceptions about the sponsor but rather calls for quality representation. The religious sponsors ought to be vigilant to safeguard morality in their sponsored schools. The respondents were in agreement that if only the sponsors would actively and constructively play their role, they would significantly strengthen school sponsorship. The fact that the Ministry of Education recognizes the office and position of religious sponsors in the laws governing education means that the ministry expects them (religious sponsors) to be active participants in the provision and governance of education. The study has recommended that the religious sponsors should make deliberate efforts to appoint chaplains to secondary schools so as to adequately serve the communities. The religious sponsors should as well go for quality appointment into leadership and governance of schools in order to add value to education. This would ensure the right leadership and sound management in schools which were cited as recipe for motivation in learning and service delivery and no effort should be spared in this regard.