School based factors influencing level of implementation of national school health strategic plan in public secondary schools in Kitui West Sub County Kitui County, Kenya

Abstract

The study intended to investigate School Factors Influencing Level of Implementation of Kenya National School Health Strategic Plan in Public Secondary Schools in Kitui West Sub County. Descriptive survey research design was used to conduct the research. The researcher carried out the research in ten (10) schools. Ten(10) principals and sixty (60) teachersparticipated in the research as respondents, making a total of seventy (70) respondents. The researcher used a questionnaire for teachers andan interview guide for principals toestablish School Factors influencing level of implementation of Kenya National School Health Strategic Plan in public secondary schools in Kitui West Sub County. The sampled school factors were training of school personnel, availability of resources, awareness and commitment by school managers. Data collected wasorganized, processed and analyzed using descriptivestatistics guided by the research objectives and research questions.The researcherused statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) to analyze the data.Most of the respondents felt that induction policy, refresher courses for school personneland training of teachers on community issuesinfluence implementation of national health strategic plan most. It was also found out that teachers were not fully trained to implement national school health strategic plan according to principals and that students did not take life skills lessons seriously since.Principals revealed that schools did not have enough resources. Apart from the resource factors in the questionnaire, allocation of funds was mentioned by the Principals as another resource factor that influences implementation. Knowledge of one’s role and what is expected in the strategic plan influence most as far as the awareness and commitment factors are concerned.Most of the principals were not aware of the strategic plan and some of those who were aware of it did nothing, this signifies lack of commitment.The government had not allocated schools any funds for implementation of the plan and that Government policies like on virement of funds are intervening variable.It was concluded that school-based factors influence level of implementation of National School Health Strategic Plan in Public Secondary Schools in Kitui west sub County. The following recommendations were made:Educationists should carry out further research to establish whether there could be other factors that influencing implementationlevel of National School Health Strategic Plan in Public Secondary Schools Kitui West Sub County, Kitui County. The government should immediately train school personnel and organize for refresher coursesfor teachers and have induction courses fornewly employed school staff. The curriculum development body should make Life skills subject examinable. The National and County governments should commit more resources to education sector. The government should create awareness to principals and take stern action to those that are not committed to duties. It should also remove some bureaucracies to avoid complicating otherwise simple matters.