International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research (IJSSAR)

Background: The management of school finances by the School Governing Bodies in rural secondary schools is a challenge. In performing their financial roles, School Governing Bodies (SGBs) are currently failing to manage school finances in rural secondary schools in QwaQwa, South Africa.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the financial management strategies used by SGBs to manage finances in rural secondary schools in QwaQwa, South Africa.
Method: A qualitative research approach was used, with a case study design. Participants included 12 members of the SGB, three school principals, three finance officers, three Chairpersons, and three treasurers, all selected through purposive sampling. A qualitative research approach was followed, and a case study design was applied. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: The findings reveal that the financial management strategies used by SGBs are inadequate and ineffective, which emanates from a lack of financial skills and insufficient training. The findings also reveal that members of the SGB, including parent governors, lack financial management skills, which stems from a lack of formal education and the rural areas in which they are situated. Parent governors often face the challenge of not being actively involved in the school's finances due to a lack of financial skills. Conclusions: The study concludes that although SGBs in rural secondary schools use financial management strategies, these strategies are ineffective; therefore, there is a need to educate SGB members in rural communities about school finance matters. Unique contribution: This study makes two unique contributions to the body of knowledge. Firstly, the context-specific insights into financial management strategies in rural QwaQwa, South African secondary schools, and the systemic analysis linking rural poverty, limited education, and weak SGB financial governance capacity in this setting, make the study unique. Key recommendations: The study recommends that, since finances are the pillars of schools and the way they are managed determines a school's success or failure, parents who lack the necessary skills and knowledge should not be encouraged to serve on the SGB.