Effectiveness of strategic planning in primary schools: a case of Suneka Division, Kisii County, Kenya

Abstract

Planning is the first element of administration and it focuses on what will be achieved, when it will be achieved and how it will be achieved. Strategic plans are long term plans between 5-10 years developed by the top management of an organization. Strategic planning is a key to school success in terms of vision, mission and objectives. In spite of the importance of strategic planning schools do not formulate strategic plans. The purpose of the study was to find out the effectiveness of strategic planning in public primary schools in Suneka Division, Kisii County, Kenya. The objectives of the study were to determine whether public primary schools of Suneka Division, Kisii County formulate strategic plans, to examine the framework compositions of the plans, to find out the parties involved in strategic planning and to analyze the effectiveness of strategic planning in public primary schools of Suneka, Division, Kisii County, Kenya. The target population of the proposed study was 52 head teachers, 580 teachers 103 SMC chairpersons, treasures and members and DQASO Kisii South District. The entire sampling size yielded 101 respondents involving 20 head teachers, 60 teachers 20 SMC chairpersons, treasures and members and DQASO Kisii South District. Data collection was carried out using questionnaires, Semi-structured interview schedules and focus group discussions. The questionnaires were used to collect data from head teachers and teachers. The interview schedules were used to conduct interviews with SMC chairpersons, SMC treasures and SMC members and DQASO. From the findings 48.5 percent of respondents had prepared strategic plans once, 25.8 percent had prepared only thrice and 4.4 percent had not prepared any. It was also realized that 58.5 percent of the respondents followed all the process of strategic planning while 41.5 percent did not follow all the processes. From study findings 60 percent, 83.1 percent, 50.8 percent, 14.1 percent, 10.4 percent and 13.7 percent of head teachers, SMC, teachers, Ministry of Education officials, support staff and sponsors respectively are involved in the strategic planning process. It was also realized that 17.9 of the plans are fully implemented, 79.1 percent of the plans are implemented half way, while 3.0 percent are not implemented. In conclusion schools in the study area are ineffective in strategic planning. Educational stakeholders do not understand the framework compositions of strategic plans, not all schools formulate strategic plans follow all the strategic planning process, not all parties are involved in strategic planning and strategic plans are not adequately implemented. The following recommendations would help in effective strategic planning in schools; to make sure that schools formulate strategic plans, the strategic planning process should be followed, all parties should be involved in strategic planning, the strategic planning process should be followed and implementation of plans should be done as planned.