Influence of Principals’ Integration of Technology on Financial Performance in Public Secondary Schools in Teso South Sub-county, Busia County, Kenya
Moses Apudo Owiti and Mary Khejere
School of Education
Mount Kenya University
Email: apudomoses@gmail.com/ mkhejeri@mku.ac.ke
Abstract: Principals’ integration of technology in financial management activities is vital in enhancing financial performance in schools. However, in Teso South Sub-county, this was not the case, as many public secondary schools had reported financial challenges. This study sought to determine the influence of principals’ integration of technology on financial performance in public secondary schools. The diffusion innovations theory and the financial performance theory guided the study. The study employed a mixed-methodology and thus adopted a concurrent triangulation research design. The target population comprised 12 principals, 174 teachers, 204 members of the Board of Management, and 1 County Financial Auditor, totaling 391 respondents, from which a sample of 197 respondents was determined using Yamane’s Formula. This consisted of a sample of 10 principals, 126 teachers, 60 BoM members and 1 County Financial Auditor. Questionnaires were used to collect data from teachers, and interviews were conducted with principals, members of the school Board of Management, and the County Financial Auditor. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically in line with the study objectives and presented in narrative form. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages and means and inferential statistics using Pearson’s Product-Moment Correlation Analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 25) and presented using tables. The study found that financial performance has been a challenge due to a lack of accountability and inefficiency, partly because principals are unable to integrate technology into financial management. Thus, principals should fully implement digital financial management systems.
