Publication: Assessment of The Effectiveness of Strategic Plans on Student Learning in Igembe Central Meru County.
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2013-11
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Mount Kenya University
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Abstract
It is a ministerial requirement that public organizations including educational institution develop
strategic plans as a means of enhancing results based management and efficiency in their
operations. In Kenya school planning involves determining school needs, prioritizing school needs,
preparing action plans, implementing and monitoring the plans. In order to justify their existence
schools need to develop strategies that embrace changes by anticipating challenges sufficiently in
advance and by planning timely response, increasing speed of implementing of response, being
flexible and respond on time to surprises which could not be anticipated in advance. Effective
planning can be attained through strategic planning. Thus, it is anticipated that a school which has a
strategic plan puts into action a detailed plan that will enable students attain their diverse learning
aspirations. However, there was no empirical data that supports this line of argument. Moreover,
when students enroll into secondary schools, they often have various learning aspirations. However,
most schools concentrate only on academics. The purpose of this study was to analyze the
effectiveness of strategic plans on student learning in Igembe Central District Meru County. The
findings of this study were intended to elucidate the extent to which SP in schools ensure that
student learning goals are met. This was important in helping the designers of SP in schools in
ensuring that SPs align with the student learning goals. This was in turn tohelp in ensuring general
improvement of schools in terms of attaining student learning goals. Moreover, the study was to
ensure that the designing of SP puts into consideration support for in-service training of teachers to
ensure they are in a better position to promote the learning process. The study was carried out in
Igembe Central District of Meru County. A total number of 32 respondents were sampled from 8
selected schools. The selection of schools employed stratified random sampling technique. Data
collection was done using a set of questionnaire for the head teachers and the teachers. The
researcher used the quantitative approach where datawas analyzed using the statistical packages for
social sciences and presented in form of percentages, frequency distribution tables, pie charts and
bar graphs. For ethical purposes, anonymity of the respondents as well as that of the selected
schools was guaranteed by requesting the respondents neither to indicate their name nor that of the
school. The study results indicated that school strategic plans empower staff to be responsive of
diverse needs of students Igembe Central District. Moreover, the results indicated that strategic
plans for schools in Igembe Central District encourage provision, improvement and enrichment of
physical and to a larger extent emotional safe learning environment for all students. Finally, the
results showed that school strategic plans in Igembe Central District support students and families
as they undergo a transition into and out of grade levels and programs. It was therefore, concluded
that school strategic plans in Igembe Central are effective for student learning. Based on the
findings the study recommended that preparation of school strategic plans in Igembe Central
District should involve all stakeholders in order to be more responsive to the learning needs of
students. Moreover, the study recommended that school strategic plans should envision hiring
personnel such as counselors, nurses and social workers to help in the creation of emotionally safe
learning environment.
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Educational Planning