Contract management and primary education service delivery and primary education service delivery in Manafwa District, Uganda

Abstract

The study established the extent to which contract management influences primary education service delivery in Manafwa District, Uganda. The objectives of the study established the extent to which contract governance, monitoring and contractor payment influences primary education service delivery in Manafwa district. The study used a case study design using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study population consisted of 181 respondents, from whom a sample of 118 was drawn. Data was collected using a questionnaire and interview guide. The study found out that contract governance was the highest significant and contract payment the least predictor of education service delivery. The study concluded that delivery of teaching and learning physical infrastructure and provision of scholastic materials highly depends on the establishment of contract governance structure and appropriate allocations of roles and responsibilities in the delivery of primary education. Education service delivery also depends on efforts to set prior contractor performance indicators, collecting data on the set performance expectations, reporting and taking of corrective actions on the contractor performance reports. Education service delivery also depends on observance of initial, interim, and final contractor payment provisions in the contract and procurement law. The study recommends that to enhance the education service delivery, the Management should always provide for an explicit contract governance structure alongside appointment of contract managers, communicating centralized and decentralized roles in contract management. Should regularly collect, analyze and report on the contractor performance to correct deviations during contract performance. The accounting officer should confirm commitment of funds before engaging service providers to avoid late payment.