MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
LE1 – CRITICAL REVIEW PAPER
This exercise aims to evaluate your abilities to review critically at least 5
quantitative research articles/literature in educational management. You will choose
only one from the identified published research papers/articles. You will be expected
to read the article carefully and write a brief report (up to 1500 words). The review
should provide a straightforward synthesis of research gaps to support the writing of a
research proposal. The report should critically evaluate the study's objectives,
methods, results, and conclusions. To help you, here is a checklist that closely follows
the format of a scientific report which is conventionally divided into the following
sections: a short (usually 250 words) Abstract or Summary, Introduction, Methods
and Materials, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, Recommendation, and a list of
References was provided.
LE1 – CRITICAL REVIEW PAPER NO.1
Name of the Reviewer:
LOVEME C. SALINAS
Title of the Paper to be reviewed: Transparency and Accountability of Managing School
Financial Resources
Date Reviewed:
Parts of the Article/Paper
Abstract/Summary
April 25, 2023
Critique/Review
The study aimed at determining the levels of
accountability and transparency of school heads
and finance staff in managing public schools’
finances in the Schools Division of Nueva Ecija,
Jaen South District in the Philippinesto. But the
objective stated in this section was only to know
the behaviour of school heads in managing
financial resources in their school using the
parameters of transparency and accountability
which the researcher failed to mention. The
information stated in this section was quite
inadequate for some of the data used in the said
study were not specified such as the profile of
participants which includes their age, level of
public schools to be studied, the type of research
method being used and the behaviour and best
practices of school heads that have been
performed in managing financial resources. The
term finance staffs were also not specifically
explained as to whoever the participants will be
involved. It was not also clearly emphasized in this
section the result on the level of the transparency
and accountability of school head and finance staff
in managing school finances but only the
challenges that the participants encountered that
impedes in having effective utilization of financial
resources. Result of the study based from the
targeted objective of the research was not clearly
given emphasis so that readers can able to
determine its relevance. Although the author was
able to give a simple idea on the importance of
transparency and accountability in managing
financial resources, it is not so comprehensible
enough for there were some keywords used that
were not given emphasis for a deeper
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
Introduction
Literature Review
understanding on the study such as financial
resources and management.
In this section the author gave emphasis on the
significance of transparency and accountability in
managing financial resources by giving coherent
definitions in each word. They also gave examples
on school financial management that were used as
supported funds in public schools for school
operations like MOOE, SBM,PTA SEF, and
SBRMS. It was only explained the essence of the
said funds but the authors were not able to state a
brief explanation of its legality, significance and
how it will be spent. The author also cited Legal
basis like Article II of the Philippine Constitution
and Republic act no. 9155 in accordance with the
study to signify vitality of the transparency and
accountability. Here, the authors also included the
conceptual and theoretical framework and have
explained its connectivity but the model in
theoretical framework was not shown. Also,
conceptual framework does not show as what
would be the process in conducting the said study.
It was also stated in this part the objective of the
study and has stated its null hypothesis. The
authors also cited that Philippine educational
system is one of the most corrupt agencies and
how this action has been handled and taken into
account by the Department of Education by
presenting a DepEd Order that will substantiate
the given situation. Moreover, the authors have
explained their intention in filling the gaps in
financial management and resources for useful
inputs of school heads.
The
authors
begin
their
statement
on
transparency and accountability with a brief
review of literature. Then they added another
statement
to
support
and
give
deeper
understanding about accountability wherein it
encompasses “answerability” and “enforceability”
which in manner will be used to answer
accountability in finances. The researchers also
review literature on the components of financial
accountability such as budgeting, accounting,
procurement and asset management that were
stressed mostly by various authors which was
further used and applied in this study as
parameters for accountability and transparency
but was not clearly defined the significance on
each components.. As for the clear understanding
for transparency, its importance has been cited by
various authors to motivate ethical awareness
among individuals or in an organization. The
authors also pointed out one of the main causes
on the importance of having transparency and
accountability in managing financial resources
based on the literature review cited by Reyes Jr.,
2007 about corruption in Philippine basic
educational system as one of the agencies that
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
Methodology
Results and
Discussions
ineffective in controlling graft and corruption. It
was also supported by the literature about the
non-liquidated cash advances as reported by the
COA which lead in the Department to take actions
and strengthens campaign as response on the said
matter. Through these existing literature reviews,
the authors were looking to fill the gaps in
managing financial resources especially in
secondary schools in the country will become
efficient useful in practice.
It has been stated that the researchers used to
employ quantitative research for the conduct of
this study. The respondents of the said research
were school heads, finance staff, faculty presidents
and PTA Presidents which composed of 13 public
elementary schools. They have used sampling
method for this study. A self -constructed survey
questionnaire which said to be validated has been
used wherein two sets of questionnaires were
prepared for school heads and finance staff and
another for the faculty presidents and PTA
presidents. Data were objectively gathered through
statistics and numbers in line with school
financial accountability and transparency. The
researchers stated that the use of the said method
is a guide to test their hypothesis through number
based result. Details of the said study on the
process of how it was conducted has not been
stated such as the mode in answering the said
survey questionnaires if it would be answered
through giving it individually or through social
media platforms. It was not also mentioned as to
what type of survey questionnaire to be used. The
reliability on the questionnaire was not been
mentioned. Statistical procedures was also not
been given emphasis. They also fail to show the
sample of their survey questionnaires as basis in
knowing what question falls under each
parameters in transparency and accountability.
The researcher presented the statement by stating
that the age and experiences of school heads and
finance staff that belonged to ages 41 and above
played as factor in managing financial resources
because of its familiarity. It has discussed profile
of the respondents like their educational
background and trainings or orientations they
have attended during the years of their service
which are in maximum of 6 trainings only for more
than 15 years. In here, the researchers presented
the table on the level of accountability and
transparency of school resources with its
parameters. As shown in their tables, it was only
reflected the result on the level of managing school
finances based on the mean response of the
respondents to the parameters in accountability
and transparency. It was also not shown how they
were able to gather the data of respondents when
it comes to the challenges and best practices
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
Conclusions and
Recommendations
References
experienced and performed by the school heads
and finance staff or the process on how it was
identified. However, the result of the study met the
researcher’s objectives and they have discussed
the result of the data based only on what they
have gathered although there were some results
that were vague to understand because there was
no clear model on how it was identified and
processed.
The researchers have concluded their study based
on the objective that they targeted to accomplish
and the findings of the study based on the data
gathered. They were able to level of transparency
and accountability of their respondents, the best
practices of schools in relation to financial
resource management and were able to prove their
hypothesis on the study. There was a clear
statement in explaining their conclusions and
alignment to its result. Trainings and seminars
have been concluded that needs to be provided by
the school and the department not only for
professional development in terms of handling
school finances but it also said to be the lowest
mean response from the result of the data being
gathered.
Their
recommendations
would
contribute for the Department, schools and
teachers not only school heads to really strengthen
and practice those theories that would help to
develop familiarity and strategy in managing
financial resources. It was also then recommended
on addressing challenges faced in managing
school finances such as revisiting of MOOE funds.
Also, they have suggested that DepEd must take
into consideration the socio- demographic profile
of the school heads and finance staff. Their
conclusions
and
recommendations
merely
suggested
in
intensifying
principles
of
accountability and transparency in schools to
govern them into making financial management
efficient and deviate from corruptions.
The study was able to show the list of references
they have used and referred to and arranged it in
alphabetical manner. They were also able to
include the cite of their own publication as
reference for future use. The study they have
conducted can be of great help especially for those
school managers to become more vigilant and be
more effective in managing resources to the
schools that they were handling. Also, with the
help of the list of references that they have used in
substantiating their study they can provide better
reviews and results aside from the study they have
conducted for future researches that are aiming to
fill the other concerned gaps in managing financial
resources. The references of essential citations
base on the alphabetical arrangement topics are
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
focus on Policy and Public Management, Public
Administration and Development, Transparenting
transparency: initial empirics and policy
applications, Transparency as a Human Right,
Transparency and accountability in the Philippine
local government, Robbed: an investigation of
corruption in the Philippine education, Stealing
from public schools, Accountability and
transparency: a nuanced response to Etzioni’,
Transparency and accountability in local
government: Levels of commitment of municipal
councilors in Bongabon in the Philippines, Journal
of Public Administration and Governance,
Reinventing accountability: Making democracy
work for human development, Financial
accounting. International Financial Reporting
Standards, Financial accounting. International
Financial Reporting Standards, Republic Act No.
9155. An Act Instituting A Frame Work Of
Governance For Basic Education, Establishing
Authority And Accountability, Renaming The
Department Of Education, Culture And Sports As
The Department Of Education, And For Other
Purposes, Republic Act No. 9155, Stakeholder
perception of transparency, participation, and
accountability of school financial management,
and the journal of Corruption and policy
implementation in the Philippines: a comparative
analysis of the teacher training and textbook
delivery programs.
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
LE1 – CRITICAL REVIEW PAPER NO.2
Name of the Reviewer:
LOVEME C. SALINAS
Title of the Paper to be reviewed: Utilization of Financial Resources and Development
of School Facilities and Services for Students and Teachers of Esperanza National
High School
Date Reviewed:
Parts of the Article/Paper
Abstract/Summary
Introduction
April 26, 2023
Critique/Review
In this section, it has been observed that the
researcher gave a coherent discussion about their
study. What they have used and presented that
the reader must know on their study were clearly
indicated. The objective of the study was clearly
stated by the researcher about the impact of the
utilization of financial resources on the
development of school facilities and services for
students and teachers. They have stated the type
of research design that they have used which was
the descriptive correlational. They were able to
state the respondents of the study and explained
how they were very helpful in realizing the
research. The result of the study has also been
revealed and has stated those financial resources
that have been used for school operations that
would aid students and teachers need. They were
able to give an idea for the readers and other
researchers what to expect on their study because
they have given the important information used as
variables in their study. It has also been
summarized in this section about the important
involvement of those identified dependent
variables in the study like the school heads,
teachers, PTA officers, SGC and stakeholders and
how they play significantly on the planning and
implementation of budget and funds acquired.
Although there were keywords used in this section
that were never given simple definition by the
author such as financial resources and school
facilities and services and its implication on the
conduct of the study the researchers still were
able to give clear overview on the study that they
have conducted.
In this section they have able to give the
significance of financial resources in school. They
have stated the independent variables used in
their research and were able to reflect it on some
identified legal bases such the Republic Act 9485
which is also known as “Anti –Red Tape Act of
2007” and Presidential Decree No. 1445 which was
very important to substantiate their study. They
really give emphasis on the importance of utilizing
resources and have mentioned some measures to
improve state of financial resources within the
school and how school leaders impacted the
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
Literature Review
success on the effectiveness of the utilization in
resources. As what the researchers have stated
about their statement on “a quality education is
the need of modern societies “it made their study
interestingly valuable because they just delivered a
message that poor learning experiences of learners
and school development does not only because on
the lack of curriculum framework or ineffective
teaching practices and approaches but it also
include the mismanagement of school resources
as cited by Manasan and Castle (2009). That
“discipline” must be exercised in dealing financial
decisions which school leaders must need to
exercise. It was also been given emphasis by the
researchers the role of MOOE and SEF in
addressing school needs and finances by siting
examples that would able us to know what covers
the mentioned funds in developing school,
teachers and learners. In this, the researchers had
able to give adequate and logical information to
help readers understand the purpose of their
study and its goal why they also aimed to involve
stakeholders in the research study.
The authors of this study were able to use review
of literature that helped them provide adequate
background information on the importance of their
research. They have used factual statements that
were relatable in the research and that circulates
in the department that would help us analyse and
reflect on knowing its importance through the use
of siting numerous DepEd orders and other legal
bases. Using these orders and legalities really
contributed in making their study relatable,
reliable and informative. They have able to support
their ideas and connected it to some author’s
views that made their study understandable. It
has been observed that review literatures cited
were updated and some were not. It was quite
systematic when it comes to interconnecting the
ideas that their study aims to convey but there
were some DepEd orders used that were not
explained thoroughly or given any brief discussion
about the said order. Moreover, the researchers
were able to relate an educational trend that was
quite helpful in providing precise definition and
comprehending the data from their investigation.
Most of the literature review used have supported
the statement of their ideas but it would be better
if there were at least some trends have been
provided for deepening the understanding on the
importance of the study and that their opinions
have been more strongly reinforced by other
author’s viewpoints to be more substantial.
However, the authors have successfully used
literature in making their study significantly
important especially on this new normal situation
that we are adapting in our educational system.
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
Methodology
Results and
Discussions
It has been stated that the researchers used to
employ a descriptive correlational research design
that appraised carefully the worthiness of the
variables involved. The types of respondents of the
said research were teachers, SSG Officers, Class
Mayors,
Student
Athletes,
PTA
Officers,
Disbursing Offer, Bookkeeper, Supply Officer, and
Local School Board. They have used sampling
method for this study. To gather information, the
researchers used a researcher-made questionnaire
to obtain the relevant data needed in the study.
The first part of the research questionnaire elicited
the extent of the utilization of MOOE that
subdivided into eleven (11) clearly stated
indicators. There are five (5) composed indicators
in the part solicited the extent of the utilization of
the SEF that clearly stated also in the second part.
The third part determined the level of development
of school facilities with six (6) indicators that also
mentioned in the research and the last part
described the level of development of services for
students and teachers with 5 indicators that also
be seen in this study. This research was approved
by the Basic Education Research Fund (BERF) for
its implementation, validation of research
instrument was secured. After getting the approval
of the of the Division Office of DepEd-Sultan
Kudarat the researcher conducted the orientation
of respondents with online distribution of the
research instrument. It also declared that
weighted mean and inferential statistics like as
Pearson r were employed. The responses of the
respondents in the utilization of financial
resources for each question were analyzed using
5-point Likert Scale with description.
According to the finding, the expenses for utilities
and communications for the improvement got
highest mean. It emphasizes that the school was
very well evident or were paid on time and no
delay of payment of expenses was observe. On
other hand due to this COVID-19 there were only
minor school repair, small capital expenditures
and rental and minor repair tools and equipment
only acquired.
As an overall result, in utilization of maintenance
and other operation Expenses (MOOE) described
that the school effectively manage, expended or
utilized the MOOE or legally utilize the said
resources. In utilization of Special Education fund
(SEF) shown high extent. It tells that SEF was
benefited by both the teachers and students to
deliver quality education. Under the utilization of
Special Education fund (SEF) construction and
repair of school buildings was obtained. This
means that school allocated enough budget to
accommodate increasing number of students for
construction and repair of makeshift buildings.
Also
shown that purchasing of books and
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
Conclusions and
Recommendations
References
periodicals in SEF was utilized as supplementary
learning materials. However, the materials are not
enough to accommodate huge number of students.
Education research was among the last priorities
of the school under SEF. The teachers were aware
that there was budget for the education research
from SEF, they were not yet motivated to conduct
action research to answer social issues affecting
students’ performance and behaviors.
The researcher had concluded the study based on
the objective that targeted to accomplish and the
findings of the study based on the data gathered.
There was a clear statement in explaining their
conclusions and alignment to its result. The
researcher shows her finding that the MOOE, SEF
and other financial and services was well
implemented and the development it has given to
the school facilities and services for students and
teachers were very satisfactory. The effective
utilization of MOOE increase the positive
perceptions of the respondents about the welfare
and development of school facilities and services
for students and teachers in terms of academic
achievement and other school performance
indicators.
The study was able to show the list of references
they have used and referred to and arrange them
in an alphabetical manner. They were also able to
include the citation of an international journal as
a reference for upcoming use. The study they have
conducted also referred to DepEd Orders and
Republic Acts that support the needs of the study.
such: Guidelines on the School-to-School
Partnerships for Fiscal Year 2016, Revised
guidelines on the use of the special education
fund, Implementing Guidelines on the Direct
Release and Use of Maintenance and Other
Operating Expenses, Allocations of schools,
including other funds managed by schools,
Allocations of schools, including other funds
managed by schools, Creating a Special Education
Fund, act to improve efficiency in the delivery of
government service to the public by reducing
bureaucratic red tape, preventing graft and
corruption, and providing penalties therefor, Act
Instituting a Framework of Governance for Basic
Education, Local Government Code of 1991.,
(Republic Act 4160, Republic Act 5447, Republic
Act No. 9485, Republic Act No. 9485, Republic Act
No. 7160) so the citations are really related to the
study. Also, with the help of the list of references
that they have used in validating their study, they
can deliver well-reviews and results aside from the
study they have led for forthcoming research that
is pointing to filling the other concerned gaps in
managing financial resources. All the references
were essentials to support the study. It drives the
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
study to attained the support that ask for the
improvement and eye the concept for the accurate
result.
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
LE1 – CRITICAL REVIEW PAPER NO.3
Name of the Reviewer:
LOVEME C. SALINAS
Title of the Paper to be reviewed:
Efficiency of Public School Heads in Managing School Finances in the Context of a
Developing Country
Date Reviewed:
Parts of the Article/Paper
Abstract/Summary
Introduction
Literature Review
April 27, 2023
Critique/Review
The study designed at determining the profile of
school
heads,
their
management
of
the
Maintenance Operating School finances of the 133
school heads of Department of Education Division
of Misamis Oriental through survey questionnaires
in non-central Schools that had 67%. In this study
the results revealed that the school head
participants are in 40’s, mostly female in
managing. The objective is to see how the school
heads achieve in their most important functions
that can be seen in the study. However, the result
of the study revealed an apparent lack of efficiency
because of work-overload and inadequate
knowledge on the provisions of pertinent laws of
the Philippines and its implementation. The
School heads must upskill their competence as
financial managers and upgrade their ability to
implement RA 9174.
The author expresses how managing funds is
important as one of the major tasks of a principal
or school heads. Because the success of any
school program depends very much on the way
financial resources are managed. Base on the
referred information, the reason why efficient fund
managing is important that schools can raise
funds, have government grants, proceeds from
school
activities,
community
efforts,
and
endowment funds by Bua and Adzongo (2000).
Clearly stated that the School head is the chief
accounting officer of the school board for the
control and use of school funds by Motsamai, et al
(2011). It also mentioned with the passage of RA
9155, the School-Based Management (SBM) was
implemented as a governance framework of the
DepEd.
The author of this study were able to use review of
literature of previous research that essential in the
provide passable contextual evidence on the status
of her research. She have used truthful statements
that were relatable in the research and that
circulates in the department that would help to
investigate and replicate on knowing its
importance through the use of siting numerous
DepEd orders and other legal bases. By the use of
these orders and legalities really contributed in
making their study relevant, dependable and
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
useful. To go deeper the study, the author
provided ideas, authenticities that powerfully
strengthened the research.
Methodology
Results and
Discussions
The descriptive research design was used to
determine the financial management policy and
practices of purposively sampled public school
heads in the Philippines. Moreover, the data were
obtained in 2014 from 133 school head of the
division of Misamis Oriental through survey
questionnaires. The results of this study cannot be
generalized to the larger population since
purposive sampling was used and the validation of
the participants’ assessment is part of the
limitation of the study. With regards, the author
used presentation of data using graphs to display
the percentage accordingly. The author shows the
statistical procedures in percent distribution of
school heads by age and by sex, as well as the
percent distribution of School heads by types of
school, school heads’ profile in terms of Number of
years as School head and School heads’ Profile in
terms of MOOE Allotment per month. The author
also present the table of School Head’s Selfassessment of their Efficiency in Managing School
Finances. The table consist of the following
factors: Prepares a financial management plan,
Develops a school budget which is consistent with
SIP/AIP, Generates and mobilizes financial
resources,
Manages
school
resources
in
accordance with DepEd policies and accounting
and auditing rules and regulations and other
pertinent guidelines, Accepts donations, gifts,
bequests and grants in accordance with RA 9155,
Accepts donations, gifts, bequests and grants in
accordance with RA 9155, Manages a process for
the registration, maintenance and replacement of
school assets and dispositions on non reusable
properties, Organizes a procurement committee
and ensures that the official procurement process
is followed, Utilizes funds for approved school
programs and projects as reflected in SIP / AI,
Monitors utilization, recording and reporting of
funds, Accounts for school funds, Accounts for
school funds and Prepares financial reports and
submits, communicates the same to higher
education authorities and other education
partners.
In the given first figure the profile of the school
heads in terms of age and data show that 4% are
between the ages of 31-35 and 36 to 40 years old
while 25% are in the age bracket 41-45 years old,
17% are 46 to 50 years old, 10% are 51-55 and
56-60 years old and only about 4% are 61-65
years old. This implies that one in four school
heads are in their 40s. According to the author’s
presentation and explanation the certain years of
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
Conclusions and
Recommendations
service,
relevant
experience,
educational
qualification and outstanding performance are
required before a teacher can move up to qualify
for a promotion. In the discussion portion of the
study the author presents that half of school
heads are female and 28 percents are male while
22 percent did not respond to this item. This
result still affects the entire study. Since the 22
percent consider as no response. In the given
figure 5, it shown the percent of head teachers
that received MOOE. The MOOE allotted to each
school is dependent on the size of enrolment. In
the table of School heads’ Self-assessment of their
Efficiency in Managing School finances result of
the author, imply that school heads are not fully
equipped with skills needed to manage school
finances. Because none find themselves efficient in
monitoring utilization, recording, and reporting of
funds. With regard to the number of years as
school head, Figure 4 of this research shows that:
21.80% have 1-3 years, 22.60% have 4-6 years,
14.30% have 7-9 years, 8.30% have 10-12 years,
6.80% have 13-15 years, 4.50% have 16-18 years
and 12.80% have 19 years. Six percent have less
than three years as school heads. Four or 3.00%
did not respond to this item. This implies that a
greater percentage of the respondents have only
about 1 to 6 years of experience as school heads.
In the School Heads’ Self-assessment of their
Efficiency in Managing School Finances. The result
shows that 8% efficient in managing a process for
the registration, maintenance, and replacement of
school assets and dispositions on non-reusable
properties; 75% efficient in organizing a
procurement committee and ensures that the
official procurement process is followed; 50%
efficient in utilizing funds for approved school
programs and projects as reflected in SIP/AIP;
none find themselves efficient in monitoring
utilization, recording, and reporting of funds; 17%
are efficient in accounting for school funds; and
33% are efficient in preparing financial reports
and submits and communicates the same to
higher education authorities and other education
partners. These results imply that school heads
are not fully equipped with skills needed to
manage school finances.
This study concludes that one of the most
important functions of school heads is their role as
financial managers. As such they generate and
mobilize financial resources; prepare financial
reports and submit and communicate the same to
higher authorities and partners; accept donations,
gifts, bequests and grants in accordance with RA
9155 and accounts for school funds; and manage
registration, maintenance and replacement of
school assets and dispositions on non-reusable
properties. The duty of School heads is not merely
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
References
collecting the finances but to tool with proper
documentation of reports. To record with
transparency, recording of in-and out-going
financial matters. That’s why the results of the
study revealed an apparent lack of efficiency, for
some, in managing school finances due to several
factors. These factors could include work-overload
and inadequate knowledge on the provisions of
pertinent laws of the Philippines and its
implementation. There is then a need to upskill
school heads’ competence as financial managers
and upgrade their ability to implement RA 9184
otherwise known as the Government Procurement
Reform Act and RA 9155 or the Basic Education
Act through recalling it. The school heads must
undergo also a proper training in handling
financial matter of schools. This is to eliminate the
“inadequate” in imposing some subject for
implementation of those substance. So that the
function in implementation will continue to drive
to the process of being financial manager in
school.
The study was able to show the list of references
they have used and referred to and arrange them
in an alphabetical manner. They were also able to
include the citation of related articles as a
reference for upcoming use. The study they have
conducted
also
referred
to
school-based
management: A structural reform intervention.
The citations are really related to the competency
needs of principal for effective administration.
Also, with the help of the list of references that
they have used in validating their study, they can
deliver well-reviews and results aside from the
study they have led for forthcoming research that
is pointing to filling the other concerned gaps in
managing financial resources. Impact of financial
management on secondary school’s administration
was also efficient in the study. Also the study
include the circular letter in issuance-accounting
of COA. The overcoming sleeplessness: role and
workload of secondary school principals was
included. How teacher leadership enhances school
success. Deped Order No. 60 series 2011 dated
August 5, 2011. The dynamic of education reforms
in the Philippines basic and higher education
sectors. Descriptive research in qualitative and
quantitative research journal of education
communication and technology. Public school
principals’ understanding of their role in financial
management and the implementation of finance
policy of Doctor dissertation, University of
Pretoria;
Policy
and
practice:
Financial
management in schools-journal of social science in
Mafeteng district of Lesotho; the PD 1445 also
known as State Audit Code of the Philippines. The
author/s provided such references in supporting
the study.
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
LE1 – CRITICAL REVIEW PAPER NO.4
Name of the Reviewer:
LOVEME C. SALINAS
Title of the Paper to be reviewed: Financial Management for Effective Schools:
Bridging Theory and Practice through Competency Development among Secondary
School Principals in Kitui Country, Kenya”
Date Reviewed:
Parts of the Article/Paper
Abstract/Summary
Introduction
April 28, 2023
Critique/Review
The study of the researchers adopted descriptive
survey design with both qualitative and
quantitative data analysis approaches. Since the
study is both eye on the management and finances
involve. It involved a census of the principals of
the 25 public day secondary schools in Kitui
central district Kitui County. Questionnaires were
used as the main research instruments. Both
descriptive and inferential statistics were used in
data analysis. The mean, median, mode and
percentages were used to analyze the data in order
to meet the objectives of the study. Frequency
tables were used to present the data followed by
data interpretation and findings. Correlations and
Analysis of variance was used to test the
relationship between independent and dependent
variables. This paper calls for an urgent action to
ensure effective and sound financial management
in public Secondary schools in Kenya. It is based
on a study carried out in Kitui County on the
factors influencing how effective the financial
management in public secondary schools. The
study investigated on three key characteristics of
secondary school principals which influenced their
financial management. Specifically, the study
focused on; (1) the influence of principals’ training
on effectiveness of financial management in
secondary schools. (2) the influence of principals’
experience
on
effectiveness
of
financial
management in secondary schools and the
influence of principals’ education level on
effectiveness
of
financial
management
in
secondary schools in Kitui central District.
The researchers expressed the importance of the
influence of the principal training output in
execution of managing principle to the level of
efficiency of leadership.
In this part, the authors emphasize how need to
be trained and equip in terms of financial
management in a poor school. Because most
Principals work in poorly equipped schools in
terms of physical facilities. The major challenges
facing secondary schools were identified are lack
of financial management skills, poor fees payment,
high handedness in the management of schools.
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
Literature Review
The day secondary schools are more financially
challenged as most of their students come from
poor parents who are not able to afford boarding
secondary schools leading to poor academic
performance (Nyamwea, 2006). In this case, the
study is not only focus o how to implement but
also how to help the community that the school
will never a burden to them. The more
contributions, the more the mindset of the parents
change upon sending students to school because
of financial contribution. In Kitui central District,
there are 25 (twenty five) public secondary schools
out of which16 (sixteen) are day schools (:2012,
DEO Office Kitui Central District, Report). The
District is semi-arid with unreliable rainfall which
rains twice per year. Majority of the residents are
subsistence farmers who grow food crops as well
as keeping livestock. Most of the parents who take
their children to day secondary schools are
unemployed and can’t afford secondary school
education. The job of
principals now entails
effectively handling the financial resources of their
schools, which can be utilized to provide support
to the less privileged students in their educational
institutions. It is their responsibility to ensure that
the limited resources are utilized in a practical
manner to provide the necessary aid to the needy
students.
In their research, the authors have successfully
utilized a well-researched literature review that
provided a thorough understanding of the
significance of their study. Their informative
statements are highly relevant to the subject
matter and have been widely discussed within.
The article highlights the various responsibilities
and roles that head teachers and principals play
in secondary schools. Specifically, head teachers
are responsible for mobilizing resources, managing
finances, organizing and managing curriculums,
motivating and managing teachers and support
staff, serving as a secretary to the Board of
Governors and Parent Teacher Association, and
fostering positive relationships between the school
and community. On the other hand, principals
take on the crucial role of managing the school
and ensuring effective financial management. This
requires having leadership skills and financial
management competencies, as without these, it
can be difficult for principals to effectively fulfill
their duties. Overall, the article emphasizes the
significance of the head teacher and principal roles
in secondary schools and how they contribute to
the effective management and operation of the
school. Nevertheless, there are some citations from
budget as document showing allocation of funds
that’s not updated but yet reliable information to
support the study. For the specific purposes
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
Methodology
Results and
Discussions
within a given time and serves as a tool for
planning and controlling the use of scarce
resources in the accomplishment of goals (Schick,
1999). The researchers provide attainable
objectives on this study.
Researchers used both qualitative and quantitative
data analysis techniques in their study, which
used a descriptive survey methodology. The reason
was they use a descriptive survey design in order
for them to obtain permanent and precise
information concerning the current status of the
variables under investigation and generalization
from the facts observed. Due of the study's focus
on the managerial and financial aspects. It
required conducting a census of the 25 public day
secondary school principals in Kitui County's core
district in Kitui country Kenya, from where 25
principals, 25 deputy principals and 25 Bursars.
The primary research tools were questionnaires.
Data analysis included both descriptive and
inferential statistics. Three sets of questionnaires
were used to collect from the three groups of
respondents. The researchers also used a pilot
study that was used to test the validity of the
research instrument and a split-half techniques to
measure the reliability. To accomplish the goals of
the study, the data were analyzed using the mean,
median, mode, and percentages. The data were
presented using frequency tables, which were then
followed by data analysis and conclusions. The
link between the independent and dependent
variables was examined using correlations and
analysis of variance.The study adopted descriptive
survey design with both qualitative and
quantitative data analysis approaches. In writing
the proposal of this research, the researcher
conceptualized
the
independent,
dependent
intervening and moderating variables. The
researchers aim to become the goal of the study by
using instruments that was applicable for this
specific field of study. They want to make it sure
that the study must be publish with right content
that can satisfied the main study.
The findings shows that the principals’ training
influences financial management to a very large
extent and there is a very strong relationship
between financial management training and
effectiveness
of
financial
management
in
secondary schools; the experience of a principal is
very necessary in financial effectiveness of
management and to a large extent the principals’
education level influences effectiveness of financial
management the influence of Principals’ financial
management on school physical facilities.
According to the researchers , the findings in the
study are base on a response rate of 84 percent. In
the principals’ training influences, principals’
training
influences
financial
management,
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
Conclusions and
Recommendations
principals’ should be trained on financial
management in their table 1, 88.1 percent believed
that principals’ training influences financial
management was very needed for a school
operation of principals. This was followed by the
indicated Principals’ training influences budgetary
skills to a very large extent and large extent.
However the researchers shows that none of the
respondents believed that training of principals
influences financial management to some extent,
little extent and no extent. The researchers also
show that the management training and
effectiveness of financial management had a high
positive
relationship
between
management
training and effectiveness of financial management
secondary schools. They conclude that there is a
significant relationship between management
training and effectiveness of financial management
secondary schools in Kitui Central District. In the
table 3 where the statement stated of the influence
of principals experience on effectiveness of
financial management secondary schools revealed
that the newly appointed principals are not good
in financial management to a very large extent.
But also told in the result indicated that the
experience of a principal is necessary in financial
management. The researchers revealed in table 4,
that management training and effectiveness of
financial management secondary schools had
strong relationship. Table 5, shows that although
there seem to be general agreement that education
level influences financial management it should
not be taken to be the only key thing influencing
financial management. Table 6 , the researchers
revealed that there is a strong positive relationship
between
principals’
education
level
and
effectiveness
of
financial
management
in
secondary schools in Kitui central District;
however the relationship was not significant.
The study recommended that School principals
should be trained on financial management so
that they can be effective in their financial
management. This can be done by holding regular
capacity building workshops and seminars which
will keep them updated on any emerging issues.
Teachers service commission should fix certain
experience requirements for promoting teachers to
be principals. Before one is appointed to be a
principal, they should have served as Head of
Department for at least two years then as a
Deputy principal for at least one year. The
researchers in this study sought to determine the
influence of principals’ exposure to management
training on effectiveness of financial management
in secondary schools in Kitui central District. It
was established that majority of the respondents
(88.1%) of the respondents indicated that
principals’
training
influences
financial
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
References
management to a very large extent and there is a
very strong relationship between management
training and effectiveness of financial management
secondary schools. This agrees with Baraka (2010)
who argued that poorly trained Principals in
various aspects of mobilizing and handling the
school resources coupled with inadequately
trained finance department’s subordinate staff has
been a problem that bothers most Principals in
Kenya in financial management. Despite their poor
managerial and leadership training, most
Principals work in poorly equipped schools in
terms of physical facilities and that is why during
the 2011 Kenya Secondary School Principals
Association’s
(KSSHA)
conference
held
in
Mombasa (21st to 26th June 2011). They
(researchers) displayed the major challenges facing
secondary schools. These are: lack of financial
management skills, poor fees payment and high
handedness in the management of schools. The
researchers
recommend
to
entire
Kenya
department of education must organize a training
for principals, their Deputies and HODs on
financial school management. The principals who
lave been trained end up being better in financial
management (Baraka, 2010). This can be done by
holding regular capacity building workshops
which will keep them updated on any emerging
issues. An part of the recommendation of the
researchers, the Teacher’s service commission
should fix certain experience requirements for
promoting teachers to be principals. Before one is
appointed to be a principal, they should have
served as Head of Department for at least two
years then as a Deputy principal for at least one
year.
The research team was able to offer a sorted listing
of the sources that they had used and identified.
They were additionally permitted to cite their own
article as a reference for later usage. Particularly,
the research they did can be of great use to school
managers, helping them to be more cautious and
efficient in managing resources for the schools
they were in charge of. In addition to the study
they done, they may offer better evaluations and
findings for future studies that attempt to close
additional pertinent gaps in the management of
financial resources with the help of the list of
references they utilized to back up their study. The
references are found from: Institute of policy
Analysis and Research of kenya, a review of
volume 2 of Inherent concern, Education
Research- Access to basic Education in Kenya;
Kenyatta University Press of Kenya; Kenyatta
University Press; London:Sage Publications,
Commonwealth Secretariat, (1996) of London; New
York Oxford University Press; New York Oxford
University Press; The research team was able to
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
offer a sorted listing of the sources that they had
used and identified. They were additionally
permitted to cite their own article as a reference
for later usage. Particularly, the research they did
can be of great use to school managers, helping
them to be more cautious and efficient in
managing resources for the schools they were in
charge of. In addition to the study they done, they
may offer better evaluations and findings for
future studies that attempt to close additional
pertinent gaps in the management of financial
resources with the help of the list of references
they utilized to back up their study. The references
are found from: Institute of Policy Analysis and
Research of Kenya, a review of volume 2 of
Inherent Concern, Education Research- Access to
Basic Education in Kenya; Kenyatta University
Press of Kenya; Kenyatta University Press;
London:
Sage
Publications,
Commonwealth
Secretariat, (1996) of London; New York Oxford
University Press; New York Oxford University
Press; A handbook of financial management,
Nairobi; Kenya Secondary School heads manual,
Nairobi, Kitui District Development Plan 19972001. Nairobi, Education Act Cap 11 Laws of
Kenya Nairobi, Education Act Cap 11 Laws of
Kenya Nairobi, Government printers.
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
LE1 – CRITICAL REVIEW PAPER NO.5
Name of the Reviewer:
LOVEME C. SALINAS
Title of the Paper to be reviewed: Novice rural principals’ successful leadership
practices in financial management: Multiple Accountabilities
Date Reviewed:
Parts of the Article/Paper
Abstract/Summary
April 29, 2023
Critique/Review
The researchers focus on the studies on
financial management in South African
public Schools and expand recurrent
literature. Most have a largely pathologized
school leadership and management, and
rural schools in particular. Pathologize
refers to someone or something abnormal
which can be harmful (Verywell Mind,
2022). If we relate that to leadership
management, it means there is an
abnormality of leadership. This article
instead draws from a qualitative case study
of success, which examined how five novice
principals in a rural setting went beyond
the prescriptive administrative
requirements to generate contextresponsive and creative ways of managing
school finances, working with the parent
community, with educational peers and the
departmental policies to activate situated
relevant governance relations. The data is
drawn from interviews and documents
produced within the setting. The findings
reveal a new set of accountability relations,
which counter the ranked relations
between schools and the community, or
between the department and the rural
context. These principals began a trajectory
or route of obvious training in financial
management to ensure their own and
collaborating participants’ clarity and
involvement in a participative management
approach. Whereas the school-formulated
policies serve as a backdrop to the terms of
operations, these principals generate
multiple accountabilities in their role as
chief financial officers. The study
recognizes vertical, horizontal, and
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
downward accountabilities, which are
underpinned by self-driven motivation,
moral integrity, and social developmental
responsibilities. Rather than being a
pathological problem, school financial
management offers policy and practice the
potential to develop co-responsible
governance. The researchers want to
change the run of what used to be in
leadership, particularly in school. They
want to change the concept of pathological
leadership to the most connective
community leadership, where the school
leaders also allow the community to be part
of the implementation in terms of financial
matter for a better school.
Introduction
The researchers used up-to-date references and
very relatable ideas from other authors. The
researchers used the idea and stressed that the
study is not to provide a new story about financial
management in South African Schools, instead, it
reconsiders a long list of research presenting a
one-sided and negative discourse about financial
management in South African Schools and rural
schools in particular. The recent article by
Rangongo et al. (2016) presents the idea that a
lack of accountability with respect to the
generation and distribution of financial resources
in many schools proves problematic. The
researchers point to the mismanagement and
misappropriation of funds in many South Africa.
The main reason that I saw why the school
leader’s mismanagement and misappropriation of
funds was poverty. Because the main root of
misleading is poverty. Not just poverty of wealth
but poverty of, knowledge, wisdom, love, and
understanding. School governors’ confusion about
who, principals, or school governing bodies is
responsible for financial management was
challenging. Lack of financial management skills
and knowledge among school governors is unsafe.
The researchers aim to see whether these
conceptions of financial accountability are limiting
and restrictive and in need of review. Research
shows that challenges of school financial
management are not a specifically South African
phenomenon (Brown, Rutherford & Boyle, 2000;
Hallak & Poisson, 2007; Koross, Ngware & Sang,
2009; Mncube & Makhasane, 2013; Rangongo et
al., 2016; Ochse, 2004; Okon, Akpan & Ukpong,
2011). It can be concluded from evidence
presented by scholars cited above that the
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
dominant discourse on school financial
management, in South Africa, Kenya, Lesotho,
Swaziland, United Kingdom, Germany, Nigeria,
and France, among others, is that school financial
management challenges for schools managers,
administrators, and governors.
Literature Review
Methodology
The literature that was used timely and relevant to
the study. There are some up to date but most are
not. But then all were essential to the study. It
fulfills the support needed by the study. The
references although not much as that but point to
the study. It was mentioned that the School’s
public fund must monitor or should exercise
control of the fund. The researchers cited a
citation that the school must have an accounting
officer. Their roles as accounting officers include
maintaining a system of financial controls,
internal audits, including appropriate
procurement procedures, and accounting for and
controlling revenue. Moreover, the principal is
expected to account for and control expenditures
and take responsibility for the maintenance and
safeguarding of school assets but then the
principal still chiefly responsible for the
management of school finances with largely a
surveillance, monitoring, and control function to
financial management. The relevant information
was from: (Mestry & Govindasamy, 2013), PFMA)
(National Treasury, 1999), Schools Act (SASA)
(Republic of South Africa (RSA), 1996),
Employment of Educators Act (EEA) (RSA, 1998),
Section 4 of the EEA (RSA, 1998). The institutional
interests of the school guide the action of the chief
financial officer, who in this case is the principal.
The interplay between the roles and functions
overlapping the management of finances and
social development and education is not clearly
defined in the policy. The case study of this paper
provides insight into how the selected 5 novice
principals manage these multiple agendas
successfully.
The researchers focused on five novice principals,
who worked in schools considered to have a good
reputation, both academically and
organizationally. The researchers undertook a
realistic inquiry grounded within an explanatory
worldview to explore the view and vantages of what
constitutes principals’ practices in financial
management in specific rural schools, each of
which is regarded as successful. The research was
qualitative conversations and real research with
an emphasis on eliciting in-depth data conducted.
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
This research is guided by the parameters of the
interpretive query. By the Department of
Education in KwaSulu-Natap- a school that
obtains 60% average in the matriculation pass
rate. The data set got from conferences and
document reviews was analyzed, using both datadriven and theoretical-driven interpretive thematic
analyses (Dahlberg & McCaig, 2010; Henning, Van
Rensburg & Smit, 2004). This process began by
familiarizing ourselves with the data by
transcribing audio data to textual-data and
reading and re-reading of transcripts. The rereading process helped in coding and reducing the
data into themes used to report the findings. To
ensure quality and precision, the researchers
adopted Guba and Lincoln’s (1985, as cited in
Denzin & Lincoln, 2000) construct of
trustworthiness. The study is guided by these ethics,
the names used in this study are not real names of
schools and principals. The researchers used
interviews and documents to triangulate the data
and this allowed us to verify from the documents
whether what principals were saying was
supported by documents. Further, they worked
with principals that we knew, which meant there
was an established trust enhancing the generation
of data.
Results and
Discussions
The researchers stand for the leadership of the
principal has been noted to be the most important
factor for activating success in Africa and even
internationally. This paper is not just for the local
area of South Africa. This study reported that the
finding was also for international communities.
The researchers revealed the findings of this
study. They draw on four themes that emerged
during data analysis.(1) developing one’s capacity
in financial management; (2) developing schoolbased training for SGB members; (3) participative
and collaborative financial management
approaches; (4) formulating policies for the clear
procedure. In the presentation of our findings, we
wanted to ensure that the views of principals are
not lost, as they provide powerful supporting
evidence to our claims. For this reason, verbatim
quotes are provided in the discussion of each
theme. Verbatim quotations can indeed convey a
particular experience or statement, but unedited
citations can also lead to a sense of exposure for
an individual—especially if the number of
participants in a study is limited (Sage
Publications). In this study, the principals revealed
that they had invested time in developing their
capacity to be principals in order to deal with
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
management issues. The researcher studied the
profiles of these 5 principal. They learned that
three principals possessed Bachelor of Education
Honours degrees in Education Management, while
the other two had completed an Advanced
Certificate in Education Leadership (ACE
Leadership). During the interviews, it emerged that
they developed themselves before they became
principals and whilst they were already within a
School Management Team (SMT). There was
another important element that emerges from the
principals’ views is the aspect of moral values. It is
about how individual values propel people to act in
ways that are ethically acceptable in an
organization, a moral accountability. This is in line
with Erdogan et al. (2004) in their claim that one’s
main evaluator is oneself. One principal indicates
that there was a choice not to do any training, but
he wanted to do what he understood to be correct,
which confirms the view of Erdogan et al. (2004).
To ensure that they are able to do this, they
choose to capacitate themselves. This fear is not
necessarily anxiety-driven but may be ethically
motivated. The researchers asked principals if
their apparent capacity helped them in
undertaking financial management tasks. All
principals replied positively that they had not
experienced any conflict in their schools due to
financial issues. This confirms how the training of
principals and self-empowerment are. All replied
positively that they had not experienced any
conflict in their schools due to financial issues.
This confirms how the training of principals and
self-empowerment are
Conclusions and
Recommendations
The researchers show the analysis of the
principals’ practices indicates that there are
schools that are dealing with financial
management in a manner we regard as suitable,
and in line with the government’s expectations.
For the researchers, the findings are important, as
principals provide an alternative discourse to the
long-held negative narratives regarding school
finance management, both locally and
internationally. Moreover, the researchers tell
these findings, from the perspective of a
developing economy, could provide hope and
resourcefulness within both the developing and
developed economy contexts. Based on this
conclusion, the researchers recommend further
research focusing on experienced principals’
practices from a variety of contexts. This may help
to expose multiple practices, as well as what forms
of accountability direct principals to act in a
certain way when it comes to, for example, the
MEDC 7132 – DATA MINING AND ANALYTICS IN EDUCATION
process of financial management in schools. The
findings have also shown that principals had
reinforced their capacities by furthering their
studies about (financial) management. This may
suggest that there is a connection between one’s
level of study and the ability to deal with complex
school tasks. We therefore recommend the review
of the minimum requirements for principalship, to
include especially relevant qualifications that
activate the multiple levels of accountability.
Moreover, management is interpreted as not
confined to administrative accountabilities, but
also professional, educational, and developmental
agendas which ought to promote a transparent,
participative, and collaborative goal to generate
trustworthy practice in the field of education. The
researchers used the table to illustrate the
Multiple accountabilities in the financial
management of schools.
References
The researchers express their sincere gratitude to
the University Teaching and Learning Office
(UTLO)
for support. The views and opinions
expressed in this article are those of the authors
and the funders (UTLO) cannot be held
responsible for any views or opinions expressed in
the article. They acknowledge and thank
Sibongiseni Cebekhulu for conducting fieldwork
(interviews) used in this study and for transcribing
the interviews. Not all mentioned citations in the
above part of the study are here. But most are
near to up-to-date references. Overall there are 52
references in this paper.