Relationship between Principals Use of Strategic Management Plans and Students Performance at KCSE in Muranga County, Kenya

Globally, there has been a notable emphasis on the strategic management of schools as an avenue for improvement of students? learning outcomes. In Kenya, a majority of the secondary school principals have been trained on strategic management practices but the academic achievement levels in some counties do not reflect the inputs of training on strategic planning and management. This study sought to determine the relationship between principals? use of strategic management plans and students? academic performance at KCSE in Murang?a County, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design and by use of stratified proportionate sampling leading to simple random sampling, a sample of 50 principals and 150 heads of departments from 250 public secondary schools in Murang?a County were obtained. Research instruments included questionnaires for principals and heads of departments of which the response rate was 100 per cent whereas two observation schedules were used by the researcher with one having a response rate of 98% and the other 100%. Nominal data, frequencies and averages, were analyzed with the useof descriptive and inferential statistics which included means and percentages. The inferential statistics used in data analysis included Pearson correlation coefficient. The study established that principals? use of strategic plans in schools' strategic management practices in students? learning had a statistically significant relationship with students? academic performance at Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education. There was a statistically significant relationship between schools? principals? strategic management practices, however, effectiveness of various management practices differed. Ministry of education can regularly analyze the schools? strategic plans and make training on strategic management practices mandatory for anyone aspiring to become a school principal Equally, the study suggested further research on relationship between other different education key players strategic management practices and students? performance in other different education level. All these would contribute towards achieving the goals and objectives of strategic management practices.