Financing and sustainability of private secondary schools in Uganda: a case study of Mbarara municipality.

Abstract

This study investigated how private proprietors raise funds and variables associated with financing, and sustainability of private secondary schools in Mbarara Municipality. The study was guided by the following objectives. e The sources of finance and influence on the growth of private secondary schools. • The opinions of proprietors, administrators and teachers on the sustainability of private secondary schools. • The expectations of entrepreneurs from their private secondary schools. A total of 209 participants were involved in the study comprising of 14 proprietors, 14 Head teachers and 181 Teachers. Data was collected from private proprietors using unstructured interview guide that captured verbal responses under four subsections. Head teachers and teachers were administered a separate questionnaire each with four sections with both semi- structured and unstructured open- ended questions. Quantitative data generated by questionnaires was scored and coded. Frequencies and percentages were generated and x2 (chi-square) was used to test the hypotheses Proprietors were interviewed and data was analyzed qualitatively basing on emerging themes. Findings indicated that men head teachers perceived the source of capital and growth of the private secondary schools more positively than female head teachers do. Opinions of proprietors, head teachers and teachers regarding growth and sustainability of the schools did not differ significantly and neither did entrepreneurs' expectations from stakeholders. It is concluded that for these private schools to grow and sustain them, collective views of stakeholders should be harmonized, gender disparities should be bridged and the schools should be optimally funded. It is recommended that private secondary school proprietors should generate more funds and vary their different sources of income for their schools to grow and sustain themselves. The government of Uganda should apportion more funds to the private Education sector so as to attract other schools to join the partnership. Close monitoring and supervision of the existing schools should be put in place so as to maintain standards.