PRINCIPALS’ PERCEPTION ON FACTORS MILITATING AGAINST EFFECTIVE SECONDARY SCHOOL MANAGEMENT IN ENUGU STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

This study sought to determine Principals’ perception on factors militating against effective secondary school management in Enugu State. Four research questions and hypotheses guided the study. The study was conducted using descriptive survey design with the entire 307 of principals in public secondary school of Enugu State. A close ended questionnaire which was researcher designed was used to obtain responses from the principals. The instrument was face validated by three experts from department of Educational Management and Measurement and Evaluation of Enugu State University of Science and Technology respectively. Internal consistency was determined using Cronbach alpha statistics and a co-efficient of 0.71 was obtained. 325 questionnaires were distributed with 315 returned. Responses from the principals were analyzed using mean and standard deviation while t-test was used to test the differences in the mean ratings of the null hypothesis at 0.05 level. The findings of the study showed that to a very great extent sufficient fund, adequate school plant or facilities, school-community relationship and population control among others are indices for the proper management of schools which is why their lack or insufficiency militate against the effective management of secondary schools in Enugu State. It was recommended among others that professionals in education sector should be allowed to take over and manage the affairs of Education for adequate and proper policies and implementations that will reflect the minds of every stakeholder in the sector from students, teachers, principals, parents and communities in the state. Government should declare a state of emergency on the education sector in order to develop a holistic approach in solving the problem of the sector for optimal functioning of schools. Proper funding and re-training of principals on proper school management through seminars, workshops and symposium should be done annually. Parents and private corporations should also be allowed to contribute in educational policies, funding and management of secondary schools.