Assessment of the current capacity of School principals for the effective implementation of the Universal Basic Education Programme in junior secondary schools in South East Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract

 

This study determined the current management capacity of school principals for the effective implementation of the Universal Basic Education in junior secondary schools in South East Nigeria. To achieve this purpose, six specific objectives and six corresponding research questions were formulated to guide the study. The descriptive survey research design was employed for the study. The population of the study comprised all the principals and teachers in public secondary schools in five states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states in south east geopolitical zone. The sample of the study was 1239, made up of 162 principals and 1077 teachers drawn from three states of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states using proportionate simple random sampling techniques. The research instrument used to collect data for the study was questionnaire (Current Management Capacity Assessment Questionnaire). Five experts validated the instrument. Crombach Alpha reliability method was used to determine the internal consistency of the CMCAQ items which gave Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.85. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions. It was found out that school principals’ current capacity were of slight capacity or low performance in 16 capacity items in instructional leadership, 12 capacity items in staff personnel, 14 capacity items in student personnel, 10 capacity items in school plant, 10 capacity items in school finance and 12 capacity items in school-community relations management for the effective implementation of the UBE programme in junior secondary schools in South East, Nigeria. Based on the findings, it was recommended that Government and her agencies in charge of education administration should sponsor and encourage school principals to attend and compulsorily participate in re-training programmes, like workshops, seminars, symposia, among others to improve their performance in the effective implementation of the UBE programme. Principals of secondary schools should utilize the findings of the study to seek for avenues to improve themselves through in service re-training programmes to acquire the capacities they need for effective performance of their duties. Curriculum planners should incorporate the findings of this study in the curriculum of universities so that the would-be schools principals and administrators will be well grounded in the core capacities required for the effective implementation of educational programmes.

 

 

Keywords: current capacity, education reform programme, school principal, programme implementation, universal basic education