Practices and Challenges of Instructional Materials Management in Government Secondary Schools of East Hararge Zone, Oromia Regional State

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the instructional material management at ten secondary schools in East Hararghe Zone Oromiya region. Instructional material management is the process of planning, purchasing, distributing, storage process, and inventory control and disposal management of tools that are needed in teaching and learning process to bring about quality of Education. To find solution of the study, the basic research question to be answered are the extent to what instructional materials management functions are implemented bay school leaders efficiently and effectively, how are the process of instructional material management practiced, and what are the challenges related to instructional materials management and utilization in secondary schools. To answer these questions both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through questionnaire and interview. The result reveals that the practice of educational material management and utilization was found to be poor. It can be said that instruction materials planning is prepared without adequate gathering information. There are no guidelines and polices regarding to instructional material management and utilization in secondary schools. Finally, to improve instructional materials management it is suggested that: 1) there should be instructional materials administration guide line in the secondary schools and training should be given to academic and supportive staff. Users of instructional materials have to involve in preparation of procurement plan and participate in preparing and checking the specification of instructional materials. There should be adequate store in the secondary schools to protect and keep safe instructional materials. Physical inventory and disposing of unused materials should be made in the schools. Codification and registration of instructional materials purchased and distributed should be made in the secondary schools.