FACTORS AFFECTING THE MANAGEMENT OF ALTERNATIVE BASIC EDUCATION IN HARSHIN WOREDA, SOMALI REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate some of factors affecting the management of ABE program in Harshin woreda, Somali Regional state. It was a descriptive survey study that used questionnaire, interview and focus group discussion instruments of data collection. The target population of this study were all the existing ABE learning centers and their facilitators and head facilitators, supervisors and 1 WEO expert who were purposively sampled for the study, and ABE center improvement management committee The study used descriptive survey design The finding of the study were Center Management Committee members do not have an educational background; the ABE learning centers lacks facility of drinking water and latrine; low salary and lack of incentives provision for facilitators and head facilitators, lack of commitment due to lack of motivating incentive for the ABE centers management committee members, lack of budget for supervisors to perform the role of monitoring and supervision services, lack of commitment of Woreda Education Office officials; facilitators and head facilitators poor leadership and management skills, lack of proper monitoring and supervision by the relevant stakeholders, poor motivational level of facilitators and head facilitators were the major factors affecting the management of ABE program in learning centers; ABE centers are visited by the supervisors once a year due to problems related with lack of transportation means as the learning centers are mostly far located that needs budget allocation; even if supervisors visit, they only record the learning center data and do not interact with facilitators; lack of in-service training (orientation, induction, among others) on the process of leading the ABE centers improvement program is one of the major factors that CMC encountered in the management of ABE program. It was concluded that lack of motivation, transportation problems, economic constraints; lack of proper monitoring and supervision; lack of budget, the ABE center CMC members and head facilitators lacking managerial ability, lack of guiding documents in learning centers were the major factors affecting the management of ABE program; on the other hand, lack of orientation and training on the process of implementing the improvement program were the major factors encountered the ABE center improvement management committee that could enable them fully involved in the management practices of ABE program at learning centers. Therefore, based on the finding it was recommended that framework that clearly identify the roles of ABE center head facilitators should be developed, the ABE learning center improvement committee should be established and provided with leadership training that could enable them effectively lead the learning center improvement program at ABE centers, incentives should be provided for facilitators, head facilitators, supervisors in order to motivate and increase their involvement in the management practices, ABE program at learning centers should be properly supervised and monitored.