PRINCIPALS’ PLANNING STRATEGIES FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AND FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN AWKA EDUCATION ZONE

Abstract

This study was embarked to determine the extent of principals planning strategies for school improvement and for quality assurance in secondary schools in Awka Education Zone of Anambra State. One research question and one null hypothesis tested at 0.04 level of significance guided the study. Descriptive research design was adopted in the study. The study was carried out in Awka Education Zone with the population of 62 public secondary schools principals. 20 questionnaire items developed by the researcher was used for data collection. Three experts validated the instrument 2 from education management and policy and one from measurement and evaluation unit, all in Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka. Reliability testing was conducted through pilot test on 10 male and 10 female Secondary Schools Principals in Delta State who were not concluded in the population of the study. Cronbach Alpha reliability method data obtained yielded co-efficient score of 0.70 with the overall co-efficient of 0.80 which was deemed fit for the study. Data collected from the respondents, statistical means was used to answer the research questions, standard deviation was used to ascertain the respondents’ closeness in their ratings while t-test was used to test the null hypothesis with 0.04 level of significance. Findings of the study indicated that male and female principals of secondary schools in Awka Education Zone applied planning strategies for school improvement and for quality assurance to a high extent. The findings further showed that male and female principals did not significantly differ in their mean ratings on their planning strategies for school improvement and for quality assurance in secondary schools in Awka Education Zone. The following recommendations were made among others. That Ministry of Education in collaboration with Post Primary Schools Service Commission should organize conferences, seminars, in-service training, workshop for principals so that they can be educated and acquainted with the need for adequate planning strategies for school improvement and for quality assurance. Moreso, government should adequately fund secondary schools and as well give grant/aids together with facilities to secondary schools for school improvement and for quality assurance.