Assessment of the Effectiveness of Community Secondary Schools Boards on School Performance in Rukwa Tanzania: The Case of Sumbawanga District, Tanzania

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness capacities of community secondary school boards on school performance in Tanzania. The study was conducted in Sumbawanga district in Rukwa region. The study aimed to meet the following specific objectives; to identify the essential competencies of school boards, to establish the extent to which experience as Heads of the Schools influence Community Secondary School Boards, to explore the challenges that limit the school boards competencies in fulfilling their duties. The study targeted Board members, Head of the schools, educational officers, teachers and other educational stakeholders. The District has 18 community secondary schools out of which 10 schools were studied. The study employed mixed methodology whereby both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. The study adopted cross-sectional research design. The purposive and stratified sampling technique was employed. Focused group discussion and interview guide questionnaires were used for collection of data. The challenges facing the school boards have also been explored. These include; poor nomination of board members by heads of schools, lack of orientation and training, inadequate skills in management and administration. The study recommended that majority of members of the school Board Member should have at least post secondary academic qualification and be trained in financial management; capacity building is needed to enhance the current status of effectiveness of the school boards. The researcher suggests that another comprehensive study on school boards in Tanzania should be conducted to cover a wide study area for both private and pure government schools in order to allow generalizations for the whole country