Contribution of The Catholic Church to Financial Resources and Infrastructural Development of Secondary Schools in Kenya: A Case Study of Kisii Central Sub - County

Abstract : The Kenya’s Basic Education Act 2013 empowers religious sponsors to participate in management of schools that they sponsor with regard to appointment of principals, provision of instructional, financial and infrastructural development of the schools. In Kisii Central Sub-County, the Catholic Church participates in management of 29(39.7%) secondary schools. However, queries were being raised on the current contribution of the church as it had come to the fore that most sponsored schools were experiencing crises that had tended to be linked to the church’s participation in management. For instance, out of 29 principals in the sub-county, 18 (62.07%) new principals; 23 (79.31%) deputy principals and 5 (17.24%) BOM chair persons were rejected by the church from assuming their positions between 2010 – 2013 in the Sub-County which was higher compared to neighbouring Sub-Counties, that is, Marani 1(4.54%) and Kisii South 2 (7.41%) Principals; while Masaba 3 (12%) and Sameta 3 (13.04%) both involving Board of Management. The objectives of the study were to determine the contribution of the Catholic Church to financial resources and ascertain the contribution of the Catholic Church to infrastructural development to management of public secondary schools in Kisii Central Sub – County. The findings of this study were that the Catholic Church contribution to financial support for administrative staff, motivation and student bursaries was 27.7%; Infrastructural development in terms of provision for classrooms and land was 36.4%. this implies that the Catholic Church contribution to financial resources and infrastructural resources was critical and acknowledged by the School Boards of Management.