Principals’ capacity building and school effectiveness in Niger, Nigeria / Ombuguhim Salman Umar

• Main Author: Ombuguhim Salman , Umar
• Format: Thesis
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: L Education (General)
• Online Access: http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/15071/1/Ombuguhim.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/15071/2/Ombuguhim.pdf; http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/15071/

Principals’ capacity building and school effectiveness is a crucial aspect of educational development, growth, and sustainability. In recent years, many countries are aspiring to adopt this concept, Nigeria inclusive. This study investigates Principals’ Capacity Building and School Effectiveness in Niger State, Nigeria. The study examined the extent to which secondary school principals implement capacity building in secondary school education levels to foster growth in the sector. The study discovered the extent of principals’ capacity building matrix of Secondary School Principals (SSPs), Heads of Department (HODs) and Secondary School Education Board Officials (SSEBOs) for enhancing the effectiveness of secondary schools in Niger State, Nigeria. A mixed research methodology that explored quantitative and qualitative approaches was adopted to ensure the overall assessment of empirical and theoretical concepts. The purpose of using this approach is to ensure that assumptions, findings, and results are consistent, valid and credible. The population for the study was 852 who are SSPs, HODs, and SSEBOs from 7 localities that constitute Niger state educational zones. Quantitatively, the sample size for the study was 448 who were randomly selected. Data was collected through questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Questionnaires were administered to the sample size of the study, out of that, 445 questionnaires were returned duly completed. Qualitatively, 9 participants were selected purposely to represent a qualitative sample for the study, with one participant from the 3 zones who are SSP, HOD, and SSEBO representing each zone respectively. A focus group interview was conducted on the selected SSPs, HODs, and SSEBOs. The survey result shows that the principals’ capacity building are high in Niger State Secondary Schools. The data further reveals that the level of school effectiveness activities is high among different Principals (SSPs, SSEBOs, and HODs). ANOVA result indicated statistically significant differences between mean responses of SSEBOs, SSPs, and HODs on principals’ capacity building for enhancing the effectiveness of secondary schools in Niger state at 0.05 level of significance f(2,442) = 15.24,p(.00)< 0.05. Also, ANOVA result shows that there are significant differences in the mean responses of SSPs, HODs, and SSEBOs on principals’ capacity building matrix for enhancing the effectiveness of secondary schools in Niger state at 0.05 level of significance f(2,442)= 23.34, p(.00)<0.05. Furthermore, there is a significant relationship with principals’ capacity building and principals’ capacity building matrix effectiveness of secondary schools. As a result, principals’ capacity building and principals’ capacity building matrix had a significant influence on school effectiveness in Niger. However, findings from qualitative data show that community engagement, the flow of communication, credibility, and trust, and financial management has impacts on the effectiveness of schools. The outcome further reveals that principals’ capacity building matrix, specifically distributed leadership has an important contribution to the effectiveness of schools. The study concludes that capacity building ensures better effectiveness of schools particularly, the effectiveness and improvement of secondary schools.