Impact of Human Resource Planning on Improvement of Delivery of Secondary Education Services in Tanzania

Abstract

This study assessed the impact of human resource planning on improving the delivery of secondary education services in Misungwi District Council. Misungwi District Council is facing the problem of shortage of human resources in public schools. Specifically, the study determined human resource planning practices for secondary education delivery, role of human resource planning practices secondary education service delivery, challenges that affect human resource planning for secondary education delivery, and strategies for improving human resource planning practices in Misungwi District Council. The study employed a mixed method case study design. The study involved a sample size of 83 respondents who included human resource (n= 3), head teachers (n=35), ward executive officers (n=22), and ward education officers (n=23). Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. Questionnaire data were analyzed through descriptive and regression statistics while interview data were analyzed through content analysis. The study findings confirmed five human resource planning practices at Misungwi District Council. They included preparation of human resource inventory, conducting needs assessment, inclusion of human resource needs in budget plans, placing teachers based on needs of schools, and forecasting future requirements. The study findings revealed most of the surveyed respondents strongly indicated that that human resource planning has not enhanced equitable distribution of teachers, completion of syllabus on time, reduction of costs in hiring part time teachers, and teacher motivation. The study findings showed that human resource planning is affected by several challenges such as shortage of budget, lack of involvement of head teachers in HRP decision making, lack of teachers‟ awareness regarding human resource planning, and lack of autonomy in making HR decisions, lack of commitment and lack of skills in HR planning. The study identified five strategies, including timely disbursement of education grant, allocation of sufficient budget to human resource planning, involvement of head teachers in decision making, sufficient autonomy in human resource management, and provision of training in human resource planning. The study concludes that improvement of secondary education delivery requires improvement of human resource planning practices. The study recommends allocation of sufficient financial resources in implementing human resource plans.