Students’ perceptions on effects of implementation of information strategy on the performance of Soche Technical College

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to investigate the students’ perceptions on the effects of implementation of information strategy on the performance of Soche Technical College, a national Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) institution in Blantyre, Southern Malawi. In this cross-sectional study, the main data collection tool was a structured self-administered questionnaire which was mainly used to collect data from 93 sampled students of Soche Technical College. The researcher used both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Firstly, the primary data was solicited, grouped, and coded according to the common themes as part of data preparation process prior to actual data analysis. Thereafter, data was analysed both qualitatively by making expressive descriptions and elaborated general statements, and in part quantitatively analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel Software to answer the research questions in order to achieve research objectives. The findings showed that students have positive perceptions of the information strategy as implemented by Soche Technical College. The study also showed that information strategy determinants at Soche Technical College positively affect the performance of students with regard to annual goals, information access, availability of information, timeliness in information giving, availability of teachers, accessibility of facilities and teacher information from other teachers. Students showed positive perceptions of the information strategy implementation on the performance of Soche Technical College. However, basing on students’ comments, the study recommends that TEVET institutions should strive at increasing their efficiency and effectiveness in information strategies in line with defined goals through developing a culture of capturing, storing and disseminating accurate information timely, that they should continuously invest in the training of their staff and their information strategy by identifying which potential strategy improvements are likely to yield the greatest returns and that data should be held in a few locations and systems; ideally in a single logical location with appropriate backups for security and resilience. Institutional facilities also need to be inclusive and top level management should spearhead the strategy in use.