Influence of principals’ leadership styles on implementation of strategic plans in public secondary schools in Trans Nzoia West Sub County

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of the principals’ leadership styles on implementation of strategic plans in public secondary schools in Trans Nzoia West Sub County. The study was guided by the Modern Decision Theory, stakeholder and communication theory. The target population included all Board of management members, the principals and the teachers. Both probability and non-probability sampling approaches were employed to determine sample size for the study. A suitable sample size of 305 respondents was selected from this target population for data collection purposes. Primary data was done through the help of Questionnaires, document analysis and qualitative data was collected using the interview schedules. Quantitative and qualitative approaches were applied to process and analyze data collected from the field. The study was significant to the education stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education, Departments of Education, teachers, parents and the society. The study concluded that they were a strong relationship between the principals’ leadership styles and implementation of strategic plans in secondary schools in the sub county. Schools’ administration should give strategic plans life by not only ensuring that they are developed just as a statutory requirement, but they should be implemented to the letter. It was recommended that the ministry of education should develop clear school policy plan implementation. School management should employ a democratic leadership style while developing strategic plans as they ensure better achievement of strategic objectives.