| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of strategic plan implementation on students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in Marsabit Central, Sub-County, Kenya. Four objectives were formulated to guide the study; to determine the extent to which schools’ mission statement influenced students’ academic performance, to assess how schools’ continuous assessment strategy influenced students’ academic Performance, to determine how schools bench-marking strategy influenced students’ academic performance and to establish the extent to which schools’ syllabus coverage strategy influenced students’ academic performance. The study was guided by the Education Production Function Model by Mace (1979). The study used descriptive survey design targeting 10 principals, 60 heads of departments and 529 form four students. The sample size was made up of 10 principals, 30 heads of departments and 160 form four students. Qualitative and quantitative data obtained from the study were analyzed by help of computer software for statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) to increase accuracy of results. From the study it was established that the majority of public secondary schools had mission statements clearly written on billboard, walls and entrances. However, they were not always communicated across the school verbally. A majority of schools who had put continuous assessment strategies in place in assessing their students had made a considerable value added progress on their students’ academic performance. Bench-marking strategy was also practiced both internally and externally in some schools. The strategy positively influenced students’ academic performance. The schools further use syllabus in schemes of work and lesson preparation, they inform their students about the content of work in each subject area from the syllabus and set targets for syllabus coverage by mid of July. The strategies adopted include: creation of more time, strict class attendance, use of tropical timetable starting from as early 7.00 am in the morning, afternoon and weekend remedial lessons, plus giving outlines to students for self-study. The overall findings indicated that there was a positive and significant influence of schools’ strategic plan implementation on students’ academic performance with the greatest influence syllabus coverage strategy. The following were the recommendations made: School mission statement should be regularly communicated to all students through public fora in order for them to take ownership of the school improvement. All principals should closely supervise the implementation of all school strategic programme areas and embrace strategic planning as a tool for improved students’ academic performance. Further, research was recommended on other strategic programme areas in strategic plans influencing students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in Marsabit Central Sub-County, Kenya since this study focused on only four: mission statement, bench-marking strategy, continuous assessment strategy and syllabus coverage strategy. | en_US |
