Institutional factors influencing churches to sponsor public schools in Turbo Division, Uasin Gishu County

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate institutional factors influencing churches to sponsor public schools in Turbo Division, Uasin Gishu County. The specific objective of the study was to establish institutional roles influencing churches to sponsor public schools. In the study, the literature review was guided by the objective of the study. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The target population was 97 public schools. The study involved 41 church sponsored schools that comprised 23 primary schools and 18 public secondary schools. The respondents were drawn from school management committee members, Head Teachers and Board of Management members. Data was collected using questionnaires, oral interviews and observations schedules. The data was analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative techniques and presented using tables and figures. The results indicated that the institutional factors that influence churches to sponsor public schools include the religion of the teachers employed in their schools, the politics of the area, the school management representations and workshop career choices. On the hand, the church sponsors fail to admit students from different faith equally. The findings indicated that gaining influence of the school management raises faith of the sponsors and hence increase in sponsorship. It was recommended that the school sponsor should come up with neutral professional service scheme in the areas like guidance and counseling, teaching of religious syllabus and chaplaincy so as to help raise their level of influence. It was also recommended that the sponsors should also keep off politics within the schools they sponsor if their level of influence has to rise.