SCHOOL BASED MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FOR ENHANCED GOVERNANCE OF PUBLIC SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN RIVERS STATE

Abstract

This paper investigated school based management committees for enhanced governance of public senior secondary schools in Rivers State. School-Based Management Committees (SBMC) are established by government to act as a bridge between schools and the communities they serve. SBMC is local-level bodies comprising diverse stakeholders, including parents, teachers, community members, and school administrators, tasked with decision-making and oversight responsibilities within individual schools. The theory that guided this paper was anchored on the Decentralization Theory propounded by Fred Riggs (2001). Which advocated for the distribution of decision-making authority, responsibilities, and resources to local entities. This approach is aligned with the belief that local bodies, being closer to the community, are better positioned to address specific needs and concerns. The primary function of the SBMC is to provide opportunities for all those involved to actively engage in school governance with the aim of improving the provision of services, promoting equal access, fairness, and improving the academic performance of students. The study concluded that the School-Based Management Committees (SBMC) despite facing various challenges such as unclear roles, limited community engagement, resource constraints, and policy issues, SBMC remain vital mechanisms for fostering inclusive and participatory decision-making processes within schools. It suggested among others that State Ministries of Education should prioritize capacity-building programs to enhance the skills and knowledge of members in areas such as governance, financial management, and leadership.