Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
Winter 1-10-2024
Document Type
Article
Abstract
There has been a tendency to focus on universities and colleges each time researchers look at records management within the educational sector. Primary and secondary schools have many times been left behind, yet schools’ records management also matters. Using the ARMA International’s Information Governance Maturity Model, this study assesses how Mufakose 4 Secondary School in Zimbabwe fared in its records management programme with special focus on the eight principles of the ARMA International’s Information Governance Maturity Model, that is, accountability, transparency, integrity, protection, compliance, availability, retention and disposition. Each of these principles were further assessed on a scale of 1 to 5 with level 1 being “sub-standard” or immature and level 5 being “transformational” or fully mature. This quantitative study used a survey research design and solicited data from 20 respondents using questionnaires. Personal observation was also used to confirm questionnaires responses. Descriptive statistics, namely, frequencies and percentages were used to analyse data. The study revealed that the school’s records management performance was largely between level 1 and 2, that is, “sub-standard” and “in development” of ARMA International’s Information Governance Maturity Model. Poor records management skills, financial constraints and lack of adherence to records management best practices were noted as some of the challenges that faced the school in its records management programme. The study makes a call for investment into resources, planning and behaviour change to make sure that schools, like any other business organisations, are not left behind in the quest for excellence in records and information management.