RUAHA CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY

This study investigated factors that determine community participation in the management of schools and the challenges associated with community involvement. The study employed questionnaires and interviews to collect data. A total of 43 respondents were sampled by using purposive, snowball and simple random sampling methods to provide data. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 and contentanalysis methods were used to analyse data respectively. The study findings reveal that, the nature of economic activities of the area, schools‘ performance in national examinations, and the level of education of dwellers within the community have a great influence on community‘s participation in school management and that lack of community‘s willingness and low level of education of community members are main challenges that influence community participation. Therefore, the study recommends that education create more awareness to the community on free education policy and their role in community schools.

Community involvement, school management