Integrating ICT in School Financial Management: A Case of a Secondary School in Tanzania

FRANCIS MUEMA

CITATION: Muema, F (2015). Integrating ICT in School Financial Management: A Case of a Secondary School in Tanzania: International Journal of Economics and Finance 4(7), 1-22.

ABSTRACT

As ICTs progressively revolutionalise every sphere of human interaction, most organizations have had to undergo radical changes in social interactions in the work pace and in business processes.With the rapid development of ICTs in the workplace, the use and integration of ICTs in education in developing countries is also on the increase, mainly in teaching and learning. Despite the developments, ICT is yet to permeate other institutional functions and in particular, financial management in educational institutions.Yet, the successful integration of ICTs in financial management leads to enhanced efficiency, transparency and accountability. ICTs in financial management also act as a deterrent to corruption and fraud.This paper explores ICT integration in school financial management with a view of understanding the role it plays in enhancing the quality of educational management.

For most schools in developing countries, the mix of head teachers, teachers, IT technicians and other staff, parents, students and donors forms a critical social system to be considered if ICT integration is to spur quality in educational management. Consequently, there must be a match between the institution’s organizational culture and the new technology for it to fit in the institution to enhance the quality of educational management.Research findings reveal that ICTs facilitate management of finances in a number of ways. ICTs facilitate financial transactions and the use of money, enhance budgeting and budget control, and reduce chances of fraudulent loss of school funds. Furthermore, research shows that while ICTs are necessary, technology leadership is even more important for effective utilization of technology in managing school finances.These findings may be useful in understanding how to introduce ICT related innovations in schools, and especially how to use ICTs to manage school finances more effectively.

Keywords: ICTs, leadership, technology leadership, technology integration, financial management, quality of education.

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