Challenges of Formulation of Strategic Plans in Secondary Schools in Kenya: A Case of Mombasa County and Its Environs

The study is aimed at analyzing the factors that affect formulation of strategic plans in secondary schools in Mombasa County and its environs. The study looks at various variables namely leadership, training, resources allocation and education policy frameworks as the main challenges. The paper concludes that the above variables to a large extent affect formulation of strategic plans in schools. Finally, the paper recommends that there is need to equip schools leaders with the necessary leadership skills, train all he stakeholders, allocate adequate funds to school and develop clear guidelines and create mechanism to monitor formulation of strategic plans in schools. As such he study reveals that the education offices should to play a major part in providing high end human resource that is critical in addressing the challenges of strategic plans formulation so as to be improve their competitiveness. Much more empirical research of this subject is also recommended.It is a desk study that relies on secondary information such as previous research and analysis of scholars, newspaper/magazines as well as journals and articles that are related to the subject.Strategic planning has become a common phenomenon in all business organizations, schools included. It has been defined by various scholars differently. A strategy is a set of activities or processes that an organization intends to use in order to achieve its set goals and aims (Pearce, 2009). Strategic planning and thinking involves making choices and decisions about the long–term future of an organization (Pearce, 2009). A strategic plan helps to provide direction and focus for all employees. Clive (2005) defines strategic planning as a setting out decisions and actions that result in the formulation and implementation of actions designed to achieve an organizations objectives. However, it has now become a major challenge amongst various secondary schools in Kenya. Keywords: Strategic Planning, Leadership, Training , Resource Allocation, Education Policy framework

Relationship Between Advertising and Performance of Micro and Small Architectural Glass Companies in Nairobi County, Kenya

This study was on the relationship between advertising and performance of micro and small enterprises architectural glass companies in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study was anchored on three theories: Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action (AIDA) theory, relationship marketing theory, and the push theory. The study adopted a correlational research design and sampled 124 employees working in Micro and Small Enterprises (SMEs) in nine architectural glass manufacturing firms. Questionnaires and interview schedules were used to collect primary data. The study found out that all aspects of advertising influenced performance of Micro and Small Enterprises architectural glass companies. The study concluded that there was a strong and positive correlation between advertising and the performance of micro and small architectural glass companies. Therefore, the study recommended that micro and small architectural glass companies in Nairobi County should continually embrace advertising because it promoted performance and growth of revenue in the firms. Keywords: advertising, performance, micro and small enterprises, architectural glass companies DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-27-09 Publication date:September 30th 202

Effective Communication as a Change Management Tool in Creating Awareness on Leadership Vision and Strategy: A Focus on Management of Student Academic Records at Institutions of Higher Learning

Successful change in organizations must take care of the leadership, the members, the organizational culture; and any planned change should not take for granted the readiness of the change recipients. One of the Key components in organizational change management is proper communication since information is the bloodline of an organization in today’s dynamic world. As leaders and managers make strategic decisions to stay at the competitive edge, change is inevitable and if not properly handled, it may lead to failure of the organization. This paper is an insight into the importance of communication in change management in institutions of higher learning based on a study conducted in 2011/2012 academic year in a private university in Nairobi Kenya. Staff members in charge of management of course registration and grades information in the university were the key respondents. Mixed methods of study involving qualitative data, collected through pre-study interviews and quantitative data in the actual study were used. Data collection was done in three phases, first were face-to-face semi-structured interviews in a preliminary study with 2 members of the University’s Management Committee, secondly, a pre-study with 6 representatives of two universities in Kenya regarded as local best practices in records management and thirdly, descriptive data was collected using a questionnaire which mainly collected quantitative data but also had room for open-ended questions. Evaluative Research design was adopted for the research, where the descriptive data were placed in comparison with the pre-set criteria from the best practice institutions. Keywords: Change Management, Communication, Leadership Vision and Strategy, Higher Learning Institutions, ICT

Determinants of Academic Performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in Public Secondary Schools in Kiambu County, Kenya

this article sought to investigate the determinants of academic performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (KCSE) in public secondary schools in Kiambu County, Kenya. Four research questions were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted the ex-post-facto research design. Simple stratified random sampling techniques were used to select the sample; 260 teachers, 246 students, 36 principals and the County Director of Education (CDEO) Kiambu County. Data was collected through the use of questionnaires for students and teachers, while interview schedule was used to collect data from the principals and the County Director of Education. The findings revealed that, majority of the teachers (72.8%) did not use apparatus in the teaching of science subjects while 55.6% of the students felt that their science laboratories were not well equipped. From the study, 55.7% of the schools had no libraries and where they existed, they were poorly equipped. lecture method was more widely used than any other method of teaching. Again further 63.8% of the sampled students had scored 201-300 marks out of 500 marks at primary school level hence poor academic background. Most teachers lived outside the schools as indicated by 57.3% of the students’ respondents, hence remedial teaching during morning and evening was not possible. From the study majority of the students (56.9%) revealed that, the syllabus was never covered before the end of every year. Among the recommendations of the study were; the Board of Governors should equip the science laboratories and libraries and put up teachers houses. A variety of teaching methods should be used to create interest in learning and teachers should focus on value addition of the learners’ due to their low Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) entry marks to secondary school. internal supervision of the implementation of the curriculum by the principals needs to be intensified. keywords: Academic performance, Curriculum, Entry marks, Implementation of curriculum, teaching methods, teaching and learning resources, school education day, school academic da

Transition Rate Of Girls From Lower Primary To Upper Primary, Kajiado County

This study is on factors that influence the girls’ transition rate from lower primary to upper primary in public primary schools of Kajiado County, Kenya. Four study questions guided the study. Literature review focused on international calls on girl’s education among the pastoral communities and the girl’s education in Kenya and Africa at large. The study focused on the factors that influence girls’ education which include the socio-cultural factors, socio-economic factors, school based factors and early teenage pregnancies which include the flight of the girls due to the effects of HIV/AIDS and FGM. The study used the descriptive survey design. The target population for the study was 524 comprising of 14 head teachers and 510 class six girls from all the fourteen public primary schools in Kajiado County. The sample for the study was 14 head teachers, and 16% of the girls (82) in class six from the selected schools. Based on the findings the following conclusions were made: Early marriage was found to be the main cause of girls not graduating to the next higher level of education in public primary schools. Female genital mutilation (FGM) was the second contributing factor to low transition rate of girls. Results on physical facilities had mixed reactions. Majority of the girls (72.5%) belief that lack of physical facilities had no influence on them being or not being in school. This meant that whether the physical facilities are available or not the girls will still continue with their education. Early pregnancies represented by 88.4% most likely to lead to girls leaving school before completing the entire primary cycle. Only 8.7% of the respondents indicated that early pregnancy had no influence on girls being or not being in school. It was found that there was high percentage of girls out of school due to lack of female teachers in their school to act as role models. The study also established that most of the girls from poor households go through FGM as compared to those from rich households, in which case FGM will lead to early pregnancies hence the girl leaving school

Reconstructionist Analysis on the Relevance of Secondary School Learning Opportunities in Promoting National Cohesion Among Students in Machakos Town Sub-County, Kenya

The study investigated the relevance of secondary school learning opportunities in promoting national cohesion. The study was based on the ideals and principles of a school curriculum as advocated by Brameld Theodore on reconstructionism philosophy. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. A sample size of four hundred and nine (409) respondents comprising of three hundred and sixty (360) student leaders, Forty eight (48) teachers and Sub-County Quality Assurance and Standards Officer (QASO) was used for the study. Purposive sampling was adopted to select the respondents. Questionnaires and interview schedule were used for data collection. The study established that the secondary school learning opportunities do not to adequately capture learner related peculiarities such as aptitude, interests and regional diversities. It thus recommended a review on secondary school learning opportunities to reflect the emerging issues on national cohesion and integration. The findings of the study will provide information to educational stakeholders on the vital role that the secondary school learning opportunities plays in promoting national cohesion. Keywords: Reconstructionist analysis, Secondary school curriculum, Learning opportunities, National cohesion

Influence of Working Conditions on Turnover Intentions of Secondary School Teachers in Meru County

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between working conditions and teacher turnover intentions in public secondary schools in Meru County, Kenya. The study used a descriptive survey design with both quantitative and qualitative approaches in data collection and analysis. A total of 520 respondents were involved in the study that included 503 secondary school teachers, 15 principals and 2 staffing officers. Teachers working conditions were examined to determine their relationship with turnover intentions. Data obtained from teachers’ questionnaires were analyzed quantitatively using SPSS version 21.Hypotheses were tested using Pearson product moment correlation coefficient and chi-square goodness of fit at 95%, p<0.05. The result of product moment correlation analysis indicated that the independent variable, working conditions (r= -0.488, p<0.001) have a negative and an inverse relationship with the independent variable, turnover intention. These results were agreed with the results of Chi-square analysis for both the independent variable which showed a significant relationship between working conditions and turnover intentions of secondary school teachers in Meru County. The results therefore established that teachers’ motivation in secondary schools in Meru County is low due to poor working conditions and the education system appears to be staffed with teachers with poor morale and low levels of commitment to their jobs leading to high turnover intentions. The study recommends the various Boards of Management and other education stakeholders at the national and county government levels consider issues of teachers working conditions as an essential element in the motivating and reducing turnover intentions hence retention in teaching service

Assessment of pesticide use and application practices in tomato based agrosystems in Kaliluni sub location, Kathiani district, Kenya

Pesticides are of great benefit to agriculture in Kenya by decreasing crop losses due to insects, weeds, plant diseases, rodents and other pests. They also save lives through control of disease carrying insects and increase the quality and quantity of agricultural produce. However, pesticides are poisons and can affect human health and contaminate the environment. This paper reports on the findings of an assessment of pesticide use, application and practices in Kaliluni, Kathiani district in Kenya. The dominant activity in the area is intensive irrigated tomato farming for local and other markets. Due to the sensitivity of the crop to pests invasion and abrupt changes in temperature pesticides and other agrochemicals are in rampant usage. The area has over 400 households that engage in tomato farming. A total of 72 households were involved in a cross‐sectional survey to assess the pesticides usage, frequency of application, in small holder tomato production. Structured pre‐tested questionnaires were administered through personal interviews and focused group discussion among the tomato farmers in the study site. The aim of the study was to establish whether banned or restricted pesticides were still in use. The study showed that the pesticides used in the region include pyrethroids, organophosphates and carbamates. It was found that 36.8% of the respondents used and applied pyrethroid formulated pesticides while 31.5 % applied carbamate based pesticides. It was also found that some respondents used more than one pesticide in one application. The study also showed that 26.4% of the respondents applied Dithane M45 (fungicide) as their main pesticide while 13%, 12% and 12% used Karate (insecticide), Ridomil (fungicide) and Bestox (insecticide) respectively. Surprisingly 1.9% of the respondents used and applied Dimethoate (insecticide) whose use has been restricted for use in fruits and vegetables while 0.5% used and applied Mocap (insecticide) which has also been banned. The farmers who used the banned chemicals claimed that they were more effective than the other pesticides. On the frequency of application of pesticides, the study showed that 86.1% of the respondents used pesticides on weekly basis whereas 12.5% apply fortnightly. The study therefore recommend that strict measures be taken to safeguard the environment and human health by the enforcing the law on use of pesticides.Key words: Pesticides, carbamates, pyrethroid, dimethoate, Kathiani, Agrosystems, tomatoe

Teacher qualification, experience, capability beliefs and professional development: Do they predict teacher adoption of 21st century pedagogies?

The primary objective of the study is to unravel the role played by selected teacher variables in adoption of 21st century pedagogies in Kisii County, Kenya. We hypothesized that there is no statistically significant relationship between the teacher characteristics and adoption of 21st century pedagogies. Convergent parallel mixed method design was employed in this research. A randomized sample of science teachers (n=184) was used to avail required data. Ordinal logistic regression was used to establish to what extent the teacher variables predicted teacher adoption of 21st century pedagogies. The final model statistically significantly predicted the dependent variable over and above the intercept-only model. We conclude that the teacher characteristics investigated do inform teacher adoption of 21st century pedagogies. Policy implications suggest that the Ministry of Education should strive to ensure quality pre-service teacher education, engender teacher motivation to better teacher beliefs/attitudes and also invest in teacher professional development-all which we consider fundamental determinants of teacher adoption of 21st century pedagogies

A stratigraphic and sedimentologic study of the cretaceous and tertiary strata of east Kenya.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 40-07, page: . Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1988