Examine the Effect of Political Leaders in Resource Allocation for Secondary Education in the Masasi District Council
In rural Tanzania, decentralized education systems often struggle with inequitable financing, yet the role of local political behavior in managing these gaps remains under-examined. This study examined the effect of political leadership on resource allocation for secondary education in Masasi District Council. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach and a descriptive case study design, data were collected from 176 respondents via questionnaires and interviews, then analyzed using thematic analysis and multiple linear regression. The regression results revealed that political prioritization was a significant positive predictor of resource allocation outcomes (β = 0.385, p < 0.001), demonstrating that local leaders' budgeting preferences directly dictate school funding levels. These findings imply that achieving Secondary Education Development Programme (SEDP III) goals requires shifting local political incentives toward equitable resource distribution rather than politically motivated financing. Keywords: Educational Financing, Decentralized Governance, Local Government Authorities (LGAs), Resource Allocation, Rural School Funding, SEDP III