ASSESSMENT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LEGAL FRAMEWORKS ON RECORDS MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN PUBLIC OFFICES. A CASE STUDY OF BAGAMOYO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

ABSTRACT This study assessed the implementation of legal frameworks on records management practices in public offices, using Bagamoyo Municipal Council as a case study. The study was conducted to identify the existing legal frameworks governing records creation and capturing, assess the level of staff awareness of legal frameworks governing records management, and identify the challenges affecting the implementation of these legal frameworks. Effective implementation of legal frameworks is essential for promoting proper records management practices, accountability, transparency, and efficient service delivery in public institutions. The study adopted a case study research design and employed a mixed research approach. Data were collected from 15 respondents through questionnaires and interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages with the aid of Microsoft Excel and presented in tables, while qualitative data obtained through interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis and supported by respondents’ quotations. The findings revealed that Bagamoyo Municipal Council has various legal frameworks, including the Records and Archives Management Act, Records Management Policy, and Registry Procedures Manual, to guide records management practices. The study further found that although most staff had a high level of understanding of these legal frameworks, the majority had not received formal training on their implementation. In addition, the findings showed that the implementation of legal frameworks is affected by several challenges, including lack of training, poor management support, inadequate resources, and limited staff awareness. These challenges contribute to delays in records retrieval, misfiling, and loss of records. The study concludes that the effective implementation of legal frameworks is fundamental to improving records management practices in public offices. However, addressing challenges related to training, awareness, resource allocation, and management support is essential for achieving full compliance with legal requirements. The study recommends that Bagamoyo Municipal Council should strengthen staff training programs, increase awareness of legal frameworks, allocate adequate resources to records management units, and enhance management support to improve compliance and overall records management practices.

Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Peer review

Not peer-reviewed

Licence

All rights reserved