IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROBLEMS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL MANAGEMENTS AND THE WAY FORWARD IN ENUGU STATE (A CASE STUDY OF ENUGU EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA IN ENUGU STATE)
ABSTRACT
The focus of this work is on the identification of the problems of secondary school managements and the way forward in Enugu State (A case study of Enugu East Local Government Area in Enugu State). The researchers present the purpose, statement of problems, research questions and significance of the study accordingly. An attempt was made in chapter two to review materials and literature by other authors and authorities on the topic. Chapter three deals with the methodology of the work adopted, the population of the study in Enugu East Local Government Area the total population was taken which was based on the number of staff/managers in various schools. The research design used was descriptive design which was selected to look into the problems of secondary school managements and the way forward in Enugu State Questionnaire was the major instrument for data collection but this is complemented by the use of oral interview and direct observation. In chapter four the research questions and findings were presented in tables computed percentages. Data analysis and interpretations findings.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Management could be defined as a social process of making use of human and non-human resources to achieve organizational goals (onifade, 2004). Management involves planning, controlling, organizing, staffing, leading, coordinating and directing the available resources (Adeleke, 2001). The central duty of management in any organization is to coordinate the efforts of people towards the achievement of the stated goals of that organization. Management in our educational organizations, therefore, has as its basic function as the enhancement of teaching and learning. All the activities of School managers, whether working with parent-Teachers association (PTA), the professional staff or a contractor of supplies must, ultimately, contribute to this end, thus management as the component areconcerned with facilitating the accomplishment of the objectives of an organization through the systematic management of constraint and careful utilization of the available limited resources, which include human materials, equipment, supplies, finance, space and work techniques of technology.
It is important to observe that ordinary citizens, instructional staffs including teachers and school managers each have an area of activity distributive to them. Also each level of activity must be related to the others or else there will be malfunction in the organization. The head of School and subordinates have the administrative responsibilities of directing the available resources towards actualization of the goals. They plan the classrooms and out-of –classroom activities for teachers and students. They co-ordinate the school activities in order to ensure that many programmes go on at the same time without conflicting with others.
More precisely, managers who raise money, who set up buildings, who institute accounting procedures, who organize levies for school uniforms and many other things they do without clear reference to these activities, may forget that management is not primary but it is always instrumental. Managerial decisions of administration are valueless unless they are geared to the implementation of organizational goals. Management is the pillar of every organization especially in secondary schools. Secondary- management comprises the school administrators, people who are in charge of managing the school.
Specifically they perform the following administrative duties:
1. Resources and programme planning and policymaking.
2. Provision and maintenance of funds and facilities.
3. Obtaining the development of personnel.
4. Improving of instructional programmes.
5. Student personnel services and maintenance of effective interrelationship with the community and external agencies.
1.2 Purpose of the study
The purpose of this research is as follows:
1. To identify the problems or challenges experienced in Secondary School management in Enugu East Local government Area.
2. To identify the roles of Local governments in Secondary School management in Enugu East.
3. To identify the managerial and infrastructural needs of educational Institutions (secondary schools) in Enugu East.
4. To identify the effects of staff Supervision and inspection in secondary School management in Enugu East Local government area.
1.3 Statement of problem
The researchers have observed from available literature that how to design and implement the solution of the difficulties encountered by Secondary School management has posed a great problem because an Identification of the problems of the Secondary School Management (in Enugu East has been difficult). Therefore, the problem is, How can the various factors responsible for difficulty in effectively managing the secondary schools be clearly identified? And having identified there, can they readily be solved?
1.4 Significance of the study
The call for accountability in our educational system is a call for a system that focuses on efficiency. In our changing society, with all its ever-increasing demands and expectations on the school system, the need for a study of this nature can hardly be over-emphasized. This research will be significant in the following ways:
(1) It will help to improve the performance of the Secondary School managers in the achievement of the educational goals.
(2) Heads of administrators and inspectors will have letter insight on how to increase the level of commitment for educational excellence.
(3) It will help the professionals to understand the need for staff inspection and supervision in the secondary Schools.
(4) It will help the in cultivating an effective communication flow among the principals, teachers, non-tutorial staff and students for the achievement of educational goals.
1.5 Research questions
1. What are the major challenges facing the Secondary School management in Enugu East Local Government Area.
2. What factors contribute to these challenges?
3. What roles should the local government play in provision of infrastructural needs of Secondary Schools in Enugu East?
4. Which method of supervision is best suited for effective school management?
1.6 Delimitation of the study
This study reviewed the problems encountered of the Secondary School managers in the local government area. The researchers also used a population method due to the nature of the research topic.
1.7 Limitation of the study
This study encountered some limitations such as:
FINANCE: Financial limitation is foreseen due to restriction on materials and high cost involved on acquiring adequate materials.
TIME: Research work is generally time consuming and the project work is expected to last for short period of time.
Group: As a group work, we encountered problem in organizing our selves. Some members of the group do not even identify with the group to know what is going on, this attitude generates disunity among the group which in return has adverse effect on the group research work.
Ignorance: Due to the ignorance of some of the group members, we are not able to do the research work properly, in terms of visiting all the actual places.