Financial Management Issues Facing South African School Governing Bodies (SGBs)

This article investigates the financial management challenges confronting South African School Governing Bodies (SGBs), emphasizing their critical role in public schools' governance and operational effectiveness. With increasing demands for transparency and accountability in educational finance, SGBs manage budgets, allocate resources, and ensure compliance with financial regulations. The study adopts a qualitative approach, drawing on interviews with SGB members, school principals, and education officials to identify key financial issues, including inadequate funding, lack of financial expertise, and financial reporting and auditing challenges. The findings reveal that manySGBs need help with financial literacy, leading to mismanagement of funds and ineffective budget allocations. Additionally, the dependency on government funding and limited fundraising capabilities exacerbates school financial instability. This research contributes to the discourse on educational finance in South Africa by highlighting the need for enhanced training and support for SGBs, promoting better financial practices, and advocating for policy reforms to bolster the financial management capabilities of SGBs in fulfilling their governance roles effectively.