Effective use of management information systems for monitoring education projects: Evaluating determinants among secondary school workers in the City Council of Dodoma, Tanzania

This paper evaluates the determinants of effective management information systems (MIS) for monitoring education projects in the City Council of Dodoma, with a specific focus on secondary school workers, including Education Officers, Ward Education Officers, ICT Officers, head teachers, and teachers. While the study was guided by Resource-Based Theory (RBT) and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the study adopted a cross-sectional research design. The target population comprised 1673 people involved in school data management, including statisticians, heads of public secondary schools, ward education officers, and the district educational officer in the City Council of Dodoma. The study used simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected from a sample of 323 respondents from school statisticians, heads of public secondary schools, Ward Education officers, ICT officers, Statistics and Logistics officers, City education officers, and teachers, using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and thematic analysis. On the issue of Extent of Use of MIS in the Monitoring of Education Projects, the study found that MIS is used in various ways including Data collection and distribution of educational resources, resource management, including Tracking and Utilization of Resources, supports decision-making processes, used as a tool for generating reports, facilitated school management operations, helps to monitor projects and programs and contribute to improved data quality. Also, the study found that MIS Users’ Related Factors Affecting the Effectiveness of MIS for Monitoring of Education Projects, such as User training, User involvement and support, User Motivation, System Usability, Level of Commitment, and Time to Fill MIS. Finally, the study identified MIS-related factors influencing the Effectiveness of MIS for monitoring education projects, including Data Security and Privacy, data timeliness, Data Quality, System Integration, and stakeholder engagement. The study concludes that Management Information Systems (MIS) play a crucial role in monitoring and evaluating education projects. MIS helps track progress, analyze data, manage resources, and support decision-making. By providing accurate and timely information, MIS can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of education projects. It is essential for project managers and education stakeholders to recognize the importance of MIS in ensuring the success of education initiatives. The study recommends that the Department of Secondary Education in Dodoma City Council, in collaboration with the President's Office, the Regional and Local Government Authorities, should provide comprehensive and ongoing training for users of the MIS system to ensure they fully understand how to utilize it effectively for monitoring education projects. This training should cover not only the technical aspects of the system but also how it can be used to gather and analyze data for decision-making.