Influence of selected management factors on strategic planning process in public secondary schools in Laikipia west district, Kenya

Abstract

All secondary schools in Kenya are required to prepare three to five years strategic plans and submit them to their respective District Education Office. But despite the government efforts to train principals and their BoM chairpersons on strategic planning, only 30% of the schools in Laikipia West district had submitted their strategic plans by 2013. The study therefore investigated the extent to which selected management factors influenced strategic planning process in public secondary schools in the District. The objectives of the study were; to determine ways in which availability of funds, to assess ways in which principals’ communication skills, to examine ways in which training of the BoM chairpersons, and to establish how the principals’ experience in management influences strategic planning process in public secondary schools in Laikipia West District. The study was carried out using a descriptive survey design. The target population comprised of 226 respondents. A sample of 141 respondents made up of 1 DQASO, 20 principals, 100 HoDs and 20 BoM chairpersons was selected using purposive sampling technique. Data was collected using questionnaires and an interview guide. Questionnaires were validated using expert opinion from two lecturers at the University of Nairobi, Department of Educational Administration and Planning, to examine and advice on the content validity. Questionnaires were administered twice to the principal, five HoDs and a BoM chairperson in each of the two piloted schools using Test- Retest method, and were used upon achieving a correlation coefficient of 0.85. An introductory letter from University of Nairobi was taken to the National Commission for Science and Technology Innovation (NACOSTI), to secure a research permit. The instruments were self-delivered to the respondents in the selected schools. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study found out that availability of funds, principals ‘communication skills, training of the BoM chairpersons and the principals’ experience in management positively influenced strategic planning process in public secondary schools in Laikipia West District. The study recommended that Laikipia West DQASO should ensure that secondary schools in the district formulate annual strategic plans as a management tool, principal should develop effective communication channels across all the stake holders in strategic planning, KEMI should train all school managers on strategic planning as a way of improving education management at the school level, BoM chairperson should have a minimum of diploma education before appointment and teacher training institutions should include studies on strategic planning in their curriculum. Meanwhile, all principals should attend educational management courses before their appointment to the post. The findings will be useful to the school managers, DQASOs and education planners in the Ministry of Education to understand factors influencing strategic planning in secondary schools in Laikipia West district.