Influence of Principals’ Planning Skills on Implementation of Strategic Plans in Public Secondary Schools in Thika Sub-county, Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

Principals’ planning skills are crucial in enabling them to develop and implement strategic plans in public secondary schools. However, in Thika Sub-county, many principals have had numerous challenges as far as the implementation of strategic plans. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess principals’ planning skills and their influence on the implementation of strategic plans in public secondary schools in Thika Sub-county, Kiambu County, Kenya. The study was guided by the strategic planning theory and the theory of policy formulation. The study adopted a mixed methodology and concurrent triangulation research design. The target population was 773 respondents which comprised 59 principals and 714 teachers in public secondary schools from which 264 respondents (16 principals and 248 teachers) were sampled using Yamane’s Formula. Questionnaires were used to collect data from teachers whereas interview guides were used to collect data from principals. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically based on the objectives and presented in narrative forms. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages and inferentially using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Analysis with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 23) and presented using tables and charts. The study established that the implementation of strategic plans in public secondary schools in Thika Sub-county has been a very difficult and problematic undertaking for principals. This is because many school heads have limited planning skills, which has compromised the implementation process. Many principals lack the ability of principals to mobilize resources, involve stakeholders, identify trained and experienced staff as well as undertake monitoring and evaluation are crucial activities for the successful implementation of strategic plans in public secondary schools. Thus, the study recommends that the Ministry of Education and education stakeholders should organize seminars and training programmes where principals can be equipped with strategic planning skills.