STRATEGIC PLANNING IN SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AS A CORRELATE TO SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND EXCELLENCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN AWKA SOUTH LOCAL GOV NIGERIAN EDUCATION

Abstract

Strategic planning has emerged as a vital instrument in school administration, particularly in contexts where educational systems face challenges of underfunding, policy inconsistency, and weak monitoring. This study investigated strategic planning as a correlate to sustainable growth and excellence in secondary schools in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. The objectives were to determine the extent to which strategic planning practices—such as goal setting, quality assurance, innovation, and leadership development—contribute to sustainable growth and excellence in secondary education. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised principals and teachers in public secondary schools within Awka South, while a stratified random sampling technique was used to select respondents to ensure representation across urban and rural schools. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire developed by the researcher, titled Strategic Planning and School Excellence Questionnaire (SPSEQ). The instrument was validated by experts in educational management and policy studies, and its reliability was established using Cronbach Alpha, yielding an overall coefficient above 0.70, indicating acceptable reliability. Data analysis involved both descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) to answer the research questions and inferential statistics (ANOVA and regression analysis) to test the hypotheses. Findings revealed that strategic planning significantly predicts academic performance, positively influences quality assurance practices, and enhances innovation and leadership development in secondary schools. Results further indicated that schools with robust strategic planning frameworks demonstrated higher levels of resilience, resource optimization, and accountability, thereby achieving sustainable growth and excellence. The study concludes that strategic planning is not merely an administrative tool but a sustainability mechanism that ensures continuity, resilience, and competitiveness in Nigerian secondary education. It recommends that school administrators institutionalize strategic planning practices, align them with national education goals, and strengthen monitoring systems to foster sustainable growth and excellence.