The role of strategic planning in school improvement in selected Secondary Schools of Solwezi District, Zambia
Date
2019
Authors
Nkumbwa, Evans
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Zambia
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to investigate the role of strategic planning in school
improvement in selected public secondary schools in Solwezi District, Zambia. Objectives of
the study were to assess the implementation of Strategic Planning; determine the influence of
Strategic Planning on school improvement; and to establish the major constraints encountered
in implementing Strategic Planning. The objectives were achieved using a descriptive design
which was employed on a target population from six public secondary schools. The sample
comprised six secondary schools, six head teachers, six secondary school deputy head teacher
and six board chairpersons. Purposive sampling was used to select participants. Data was
collected through interviews. Document analysis was also used to verify the available of
documented information that was needed as supportive evidences in the study. Data collected
through interviews were analyzed by thematic analysis, while data collected through
document analysis were interpreted and presented through narrations. The study revealed that
implementation of strategic planning contributes to improved school performance and
learners’ achievements in selected secondary schools. The study also revealed that strategic
planning plays a key role towards the positive performance of schools as a tool that directs
resource mobilization and allocation and also enables secondary schools to conduct both
internal and external analysis of school improvement. The study also revealed that selected
secondary schools faced challenges of inadequate resources such as financial, material and
training in the implementation of strategic planning. The study recommends that, the Ministry
of General Education should provide support towards the implementation of strategic
planning in form of financial, material, training and regularly monitor and evaluate the
implementation of the objectives in the strategic planning. The secondary schools should also
have school monitoring committees to assess implementation of strategic planning.
Keywords: Strategic planning, School Improvement
Description
Keywords
Stratergic planning--Secondary schools--Zambia , Secondary schools--Solwezi, Zambia