Influence of Professional Practice on Financial Management in Public Secondary Schools in Imenti North Sub County, Meru County, Kenya

Purpose: To explore the influence of professional practice on financial management in secondary schools in Meru County, Kenya. Contingency theory was adopted to guide the study. Methodology: Descriptive research design was used to collect data from a target population of 40 principals and 524 senior staff (bursars and heads of departments) in 40 public secondary schools in Meru County. Simple random method was used to sample 12 secondary schools. The sample population included 12 principals and 157 senior staff, selected through purposive and simple random methods. The principals were interviewed whereas the teaching and non-teaching staff answered a closed-ended questionnaire. A pilot test was conducted in 4 public secondary schools. Furthermore, SPSS was used in the analysis of both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages and mean were analyzed and presented using tables. Pearson correlation was used to test the hypothesis. Results: 118(93%) strongly agreed and 9(7%) agreed on a mean of 4.93 that, new staff were always oriented on the expectations of the school’s management as far as professional practice was concerned. That notwithstanding, 47(37%) strongly disagreed and 31(24%) disagreed on a mean of 2.61 that their departments had several professional staff who were committed to delivering on their assignments. The Pearson correlation coefficient r=0.591** at α < 0.000 and 99% significance level for principals and bursars. The coefficient r=0.367** at α < 0.000 and 99% significance level were for heads of departments. Conclusions and Recommendations: The study found that financial risk was not adequately handled hence relied on personal experiences and expertise of the school management to mitigate them. Therefore, the recommendations are that the management should work with the Ministry of Education and BoM to employ more accounting staff, and institute measures that encourage community of practice among the staff.