AN ASSESSMENT OF RECORDS MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR EFFECTIVE SERVICE PROVISION IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS: A CASE OF MAJENGO PRIMARY SCHOOL – BAGAMOYO.

This study assessed records management practices for effective service provision in primary schools, using Majengo Primary School in Bagamoyo District as a case study. A mixed-methods Design was employed, involving a sample of 30 respondents selected through stratified random and purposive sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, and an observation checklist. The findings revealed that Majengo Primary School maintains various types of records, including pupil academic records (attendance registers, report cards, assessment records), administrative records (meeting minutes, correspondence files, inventory registers), financial records (receipts, payment vouchers, cash books), and personnel records (staff files, leave forms). The study found that effective records management contributes positively to service provision by saving time in information retrieval, enabling accurate tracking of pupil progress, facilitating report writing, ensuring accountability during inspections, and supporting informed decision-making. However, the study identified significant challenges, including lack of filing equipment and supplies, absence of a clear organizing system, excessive workload for teachers, lack of training on records management, poor storage conditions, and frequent loss or misplacement of records. The study concludes that while the importance of records management is recognized at Majengo Primary School, practices are suboptimal due to resource constraints and lack of systematization. Recommendations include the urgent provision of filing equipment and supplies, development and implementation of a clear school-wide filing system, comprehensive training for all staff on records management principles, allocation of a dedicated record officer, and improvement of physical storage conditions

Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Peer review

Not peer-reviewed

Licence

All rights reserved