EFFECTS OF STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN SAMBURU COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Implementing a strategic plan makes an organization action-oriented, fosters enhanced concentration and synchronization, and results in enhanced efficiency. Adoption of strategic plans in Kenyan secondary schools has encountered varying degrees of success based on the overall organizational performance targets. Irrespective of the fact that the majority of secondary schools use strategic planning, the productivity has been below standard, both nationwide and in the Northern Kenya region. There is limited research on factors predicting strategic plan implementation and its effect on student academic achievement, according to a survey of existing literature. Therefore, the study’s aim was to establish the effect of implementation of strategic plan on student performance, focusing on secondary schools in Samburu County, Kenya. The study aimed to establish the effect of management intensity, strategic alignment to mission and vision, strategic resource allocation, and strategic stakeholder involvement on the academic performance of learners in Samburu County's public secondary schools. The descriptive survey research design was employed to examine all fifty public secondary schools in Samburu County, Kenya, from which a sample of thirty public secondary schools was drawn. Purposive sampling was used to pick 153 participants from schools, principals, deputy principals, heads of departments, board of management chairs, and county quality assurance and standards officers. A questionnaire and interview schedule were used for data collection. The instruments were piloted for construct validity and internal reliability, respectively, to ensure their legitimacy and consistency. Data was evaluated using descriptive statistics, such as frequencies and percentages with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). At a significance level of 0.05, the Chi-square was used to assess the study hypothesis. The outcomes were displayed in tables and graphs. The study found a significant relationship between strategic alignment during strategic plan implementation and the academic performance of secondary school students in Samburu County. Also, a significant association was established between strategic stakeholder participation during strategic plan implementation and academic performance in Samburu County secondary schools. The study, however, found no significant relationship between the variables, management intensity and strategic resource allocation respectively, during strategic plan implementation and the academic performance of secondary school pupils in Samburu County. Hence, the study suggests that schools should establish a strategic planning committee. In addition, the school's strategic plan implementation should match non teaching staff activities with their roles. The research also suggests that the government and schools should budget sufficiently for the strategic plan's implementation phase. Finally, the study suggests that there should be a greater involvement of stakeholders in schools during strategic plan implementation to improve the outcomes of the implementation efforts and, subsequently, school performance.