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Metropolitan Journal of Academic Multidisciplinary Research

Decentralization And Education Service Delivery In Kanungu District: A Case Study Of Kanungu Town Council

Authors: Mbabazi Specious1 , Kaziro Nicholas 2

Journal: Metropolitan Journal of Academic Multidisciplinary Research (MJAMR)

Volume/Issue: Volume 4 - Issue 10

Published: 01 Jan 1970


Abstract

This study examined the relationship between decentralization and education service delivery in Kanungu District, Uganda. The study was guided by the objective of determining how different dimensions of decentralization namely fiscal, administrative, political, human resource, and planning affect the efficiency and quality of education services at the local government level. A correlational research design was employed, and data were collected from education officers, teachers, and local government officials using structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation to determine the strength and significance of relationships between decentralization variables and education service delivery outcomes. The findings revealed that all forms of decentralization had a statistically significant and positive relationship with education service delivery (p < 0.05). Fiscal decentralization showed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.642, p = 0.000) with the improvement of education infrastructure, indicating that increased local financial control enhanced school construction and resource provision. Administrative decentralization was moderately related to effective teacher management (r = 0.587, p = 0.001), suggesting that localized administrative authority improved recruitment, deployment, and supervision. Political decentralization exhibited the strongest correlation (r = 0.721, p = 0.000) with community participation in school management, emphasizing the role of citizen involvement in promoting transparency and accountability. Human resource decentralization (r = 0.554, p = 0.002) contributed significantly to education quality through better management of teacher training and appraisal. Furthermore, planning and decision-making decentralization (r = 0.603, p = 0.000) was strongly associated with effective resource allocation, showing that local planning autonomy enhanced evidence-based decisions in education. The study concluded that decentralization significantly improved education service delivery in Kanungu District by enhancing local accountability, responsiveness, and community participation. Fiscal and political decentralization emerged as the most influential factors in strengthening school management and performance. However, the effectiveness of decentralization depended on institutional capacity, transparent governance, and coordination between central and local authorities. It was therefore recommended that the government strengthen the fiscal and administrative capacities of district education offices, enhance community engagement in school governance, and establish robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to ensure transparency and sustainability. Additionally, continuous training for education managers and school administrators should be prioritized to improve local planning and financial management.
Keywords

Decentralization, Education Service Delivery, Fiscal Decentralization, Administrative Autonomy, Community Participation, Kanungu District, Uganda.

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