Implementation of Strategic Plan in Influencing Academics in Public Teachers Colleges in Tanzania

Abstract

The study has examined the Influence of strategic planning in improving academics in public Diploma Teachers Colleges in Tanzania. The study used mixed research methods, under concurrent triangulation design. The purpose of using this design was to bring together the differing strengths and non-overlapping weaknesses of quantitative methods with those of qualitative methods. The sample sizes of 10 colleges out of 35 public teachers Colleges with 140 respondents out of the entire population were selected for the research. The study sample comprised 30 Department Leaders, 10 College Principals/Vice Principals and 100 tutors. The study used three sampling techniques which were simple random sampling, stratified random sampling, and convenience sampling. Data were collected through interview guide, document analysis guide; observation and questionnaires and Quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and presented using frequency, distribution tables, and percentages and inferentially using Pearson correlation. The qualitative data was summarized, coded and analyzed by the research questions. Pilot testing of the research instruments were conducted in one of the teachers' college where the targeted respondents were given a questionnaire and interview guide. The findings of the study revealed that, majority of colleges that had put a strategic plan in place and incorporate students' academic issues had made considerable value-added progress on their students' academic performance.

Strategic Planning Implementation Practices and School Performance: Evidence from Public Secondary Schools in Tanzania

“…A critical analysis of the above comment revealed that, adoption of strategic implementation practices in terms of teachers' involvement in the allocation and distribution of their roles, enhances their levels of motivation towards hard working which in turn influences students' academic performance. This finding supports the empirical work by Meigaru et al [20] who observed that, involvement of tutors in setting goals and operational activities made it easier to scale up and improve students' academic performance in public teacher colleges in Tanzania. Likewise, Kwaslema and Onyango [26] revealed that, strategic implementation practices in terms of teachers' involvement in determination of short-term plans and school activities contributed to enhanced motivation among the school community to work hard as a team and eventually improved students' performance [51].…”

“…Although much literature is available on the influence of strategic planning on organisational performance, only a few studies focused their attention on education sector organisations and public secondary schools in particular. Besides, the available studies such as Meigaru et al [20] and Kwaslema and Onyango [26] assessed the variable school performance in a narrow definition based only on students' achievement indicators. Hence, little evidence is available on the relationship between strategic planning practices and school performance as a multilevel variable assessed at a school organisational level, teacher level and students' achievement level.…”

“…The observed findings support the findings by Kwaslema and Onyango [26] who observed a positive contribution of strategic implementation practices towards improved academic performance among public secondary school students in Babati district. Moreover, Meigaru et al [20] established that, strategic planning implementation practices has a positive influence on students' academic performance. It is therefore essential for the public secondary schools to ensure that teachers are actively engaged in strategic implementation practices so as to ensure sustained higher levels of students' academic performance.…”

“…In Tanzania, strategic planning was firstly introduced in the public sector organisations in 1990s as a reform initiative aimed to enhance public sector performance by focusing on the delivery of results [20]. It was also adopted in the management of education system as a means to ensure effective provision of quality education [21].…”

The Influence of Organizational Strategic Plan Implementation and its Relationship with Secondary School Academic Achievement in Selangor

“…The SEM test found that the relationship between the implementation of the organizational strategic plan and the school's academic achievement was significant at a positive value. The study gave the same findings as Agi (2017); Al-Mawdieh (2020); Ameen (2019); Caputo and Rastelli (2014); Kasan (2013); Ebiziem et al (2021); Ford and Ihrke (2019); Kwaslema and Onyango (2021); Meigaru et al (2019); Meyers and VanGronigen (2019); Meyers and Hitt (2018); Mintrop and MacLellan (2002); Russell and Sharpe (2014); Strunk et al (2016); Waters and Marzano (2006) found that school academic excellence is achieved when the organizational strategic plan is implemented effectively. This is also supported by Bryson et al (2018); Wolf and Floyd (2017); Zakayo (2018) who explained that the organizational strategic plan influences and has a positive impact on school academic achievement.…”