Assessing school development planning practices and challenges in primary schools: A qualitative study
List of Authors
  • Kenny S.L Cheah , Liu Shanhan

Keyword
  • Primary School Principal, school development Planning, School Development Planning Practice

Abstract
  • To understand the school development planning (SDP) practices and the challenges faced by primary schools, this qualitative study focused on the analysis of semi-structured interview transcripts with seventeen school principals and eight pieces of school development plan texts in a southwestern province. The study revealed that most schools primarily assess internal factors such as strengths and weaknesses, with limited consideration of external factors. Regarding school issue diagnosis, the predominant methods include internal observation and summary, and oral feedback from stakeholders. Some schools also employed root cause analysis, meeting discussions, and questionnaires. These diagnostic methods largely rely on subjective judgment rather than empirical data. While these approaches are essential for diagnosing school issues, the over-reliance on subjective assessments results in less rigorous and scientific problem identification. The findings highlight the need for a more balanced approach that incorporates objective, data-driven methods to enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of school development planning.

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