CHALLENGES IN THE USE OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL MANAGEMENT IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA.

The study examined the challenges in the use and management of existing knowledge in public secondary schools in Rivers State. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used in selecting 184 principals used for the study. The instrument for data collection was the questionnaire named index of secondary school leadership knowledge management questionnaire (ISSLMQ) that was completed by the respondents. The questionnaire was structured by the researcher and validated by educational management specialists. The findings revealed that principals encounter challenges in the use and management of existing knowledge in the management of schools. It was also revealed that there are no differences in the challenges encountered by male and female principals in the use of KM. The implication of the findings is that principals must overcome these challenges to realize effective school leadership. The study recommends that school principals should be trained on the use and management of KM for decision making and that knowledge management clubs be formed by teachers and principals as a way to tap existing knowledge that will be used for decision making in the future. Keywords: Challenges, Knowledge management, Secondary school management, Nigeria