CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT IN MUDZI DISTRICT’S PRIMARY SCHOOLS

CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT IN MUDZI DISTRICT’S PRIMARY SCHOOLS

EVERSHINE NDONGWE

This study, ―Causes and Effects of Financial Mismanagement in Mudzi District‘s Primary
Schools.‖ is a doctoral thesis conducted in Mudzi District, Mashonaland East Province
between 2018 and 2022. The study's goal was to look at the issues that primary school heads
encounter in Zimbabwe's Mudzi rural area. To collect data, the exploratory sequential mixed
method study design was used. A random sample of 65 primary school heads provided
quantitative data, while a purposive sample provided qualitative data. The data were
augmented and triangulated with interview data conducted with 20 of the school heads and
document analysis carried out at 20 of the schools. Research data were analysed using SPSS
IBM software for quantitative data and NVIVO and thematic analysis for qualitative data.
The study's principal conclusions were that financial mismanagement in Zimbabwean
primary schools was caused by the absence of most of the papers that comprised the legal
framework directing school financial management. As a result, most school heads lacked the
legal and accounting knowledge to correctly interpret and implement some of the financial
management and accounting principles Most Primary school heads doubled as school bursars
or book keepers because their schools could not afford to hire a qualified bursar or
bookkeeper. As a result, school heads were overwhelmed with work and this negatively
impacted on their effectiveness as school financial managers. Most school leaders' capacity to
successfully manage school money was hampered by a lack of accounting knowledge and
abilities. Lack of regular supervision and auditing by the Ministry of Education resulted in
some school heads making unchecked errors, oversights and short cuts in adhering to
financial management processes and procedures. The following conclusion were drawn from
the findings. The majority of incidents of financial mismanagement in Zimbabwean primary
schools were caused by the absence of important papers that comprised the legal framework
governing school financial management. As a result, some school heads worked outside of
the policies that guided them. The majority of reported financial mismanagement incidents in
Zimbabwean schools are the result of school leaders' lack of financial management
knowledge and abilities. Heads of schools without bursars or bookkeepers are overburdened
and prone to financial management blunders. The Ministry of Education's lack of monitoring
and financial audits creates a climate in which acts of financial mismanagement take a long
time to uncover and address. The following recommendations are made; All the legal and
financial documents comprising the legal framework guiding financial management in
Zimbabwean schools should be compiled into a handbook that should be kept at every
school. School heads should be trained and capacitated in the processes and procedures of
school financial management. All schools should have a bursar or bookkeeper qualified and
experienced to keep books of accounts at the school. Use of financial computer packages
should be incorporated in public primary schools. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary
Education should make regular checks and audits to ensure the correct application of
financial management policies, processes and procedures.

Zimbabwe Open University

2024