Financial Management Skills of School Heads and Their Relationship to the Achievement of Educational Goals

This study examined the financial management skills of public school heads in the PPALMA Area and their relationship to the achievement of educational goals. Using a descriptive–correlational design, data were collected from 118 school heads through a structured questionnaire adapted from Kenayathulla and Jupri (2016). Findings revealed that school heads demonstrated a very high level of financial management skills in budgeting, financial planning, resource allocation, and financial reporting, with budgeting emerging as the strongest domain. Similarly, the achievement of educational goals was rated very high, particularly in academic performance and student engagement. Despite these strengths, school heads encountered challenges such as limited training, insufficient funding, and bureaucratic constraints. A significant positive relationship (r = .738, p < .05) was found between financial management skills and educational goal achievement. The study concludes that strengthening financial competencies enhances school effectiveness and recommends continuous professional development and improved institutional support systems.