Influence of Strategic Planning on Students’ Performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in Public Schools in Lari Sub-county, Kiambu County.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of strategic planning on students‟ performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in public schools in Lari Sub-County, Kiambu County. The study had four objectives; to determine how teacher motivation influences students‟ performance, to establish how benchmarking influences students‟ performance, to examine how syllabus coverage influences students‟ performance and to assess how remedial teaching influences students‟ performance in KSCE in Public schools in Lari Sub-County, Kiambu County. The study was guided by the education production function theory. The study employed descriptive survey design targeting 43 principals and 129 Head of Departments. The research instruments were mainly questionnaires and schedule interview guides. Quantitative data obtained was analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) for better accuracy of the results and findings. From the study, it was established that; teacher motivation is key for good Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) performance. Schools, which had good KCSE performance, had strategies to motivate teachers. The study also established that benchmarking is important in performance of KSCE because it improves teaching and learning activities geared towards good performance of KCSE. All schools where the study was conducted indicated that the schools had syllabus coverage targets at departmental levels. From the study syllabus coverage has positive influence on students KSCE performance. The study also established that that schools have remedial teaching programmes. The study findings have come up with the following recommendations, all schools should ensure they have good working conditions for teacher including strategies for rewarding and motivating performance for instance recommending teachers for promotion. Benchmarking programs provide schools with an opportunity to learn from other leading performing schools. Compensation for remedial teaching should not be constant but flexible. School management to come up with innovative ideas to make teachers comfortable. There is need to replicate this study in other sub-counties and counties. A study to establish strategies that work best in motivation of teachers particularly in Lari. There is also need to conduct research on remedial teaching in terms of compensation for teachers, establish best practices to advice schools that are struggling with remedial teaching in Lari sub-county.