Title:
AN APPRAISAL OF THE USE OF EDUCATION MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (EMIS) AND ITS EFFECTS IN THE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE WEST REGION OF CAMEROON

Authors:
Wemba Valery

Abstract:
This study entitled An Appraisal of the Use of Education Management Information System (EMIS) and its Effects in the Effective Management of Secondary Schools in the West Region of Cameroon, was conducted with the aim of examining the extent to which the use of EMIS affects planning of the school processes; determining the effects of Principals' integration of ICT facilities in EMIS on the effective management of their schools; and to finding out strategies for improving the effectiveness of secondary school management vis-a-vis the use of EMIS. From a population of 479 school Principals, 378 were selected from the various division and schools as a sample using the stratified, convenient and purposeful sampling techniques respectively. The instruments used for data collection included an observation guide, an interview guide and a semi-structured self-constructed questionnaire with items mostly identified from literature. A mixed method in collecting data was used. That is, self-delivery, the use of research assistants and social media services (WhatsApp and email). Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analysing the data collected. Specifically, the Spearman's rho Correlation was used. Findings revealed that: there is a significant relationship between the use of EMIS and planning of school processes for effective management (0.021); the integration of ICT facilities in EMIS significantly enhances effective school management(p=0.001); and that the provision of information management expert to develop a situational MIS for each school and the provision of ICT tools to each school by government could help to improve upon effectiveness of secondary school as concerns information management. Based on the above findings it was recommended amongst others that the government should train and provide experts in information management to design MIS for each school and that heads of schools should individually go for professional development especially in the domains of educational management and ICT.

Keywords:
EMIS, Planning, ICT, Effective Management, Secondary School, Cameroon

DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.37500/IJESSR.2020.30316