The relationship of behaviors of secondary school principals to school effectiveness in Kaduna State, Nigeria

This study examined the relationships and behaviors of eight secondary school principals to school effectiveness in eight secondary schools in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The purpose of this study was to determine similarities and differences of instructional leadership behavior existing among principals of effective and ineffective secondary schools in Kaduna State and compare them with principals of effective schools in the United States. The population for the study included one hundred and eighty students and personnel associated with the schools and the Ministry of Education in three educational zones of the state. This research focused on field study methods of observation and interviewing as a means of examining the eight principals\u27 management of their respective schools. The major findings and conclusions drawn from this study were: (1) That behaviors of principals in effective schools in Kaduna State are similar to those of their counterparts in the United States. However, the criteria of effectiveness for Nigerian principals is broader than achievement scores, even though these same principals tend to be focused on students passing exams. (2) Behaviors of principals are being influenced to a large extent because of their culture, values, attitudes, and the environment of the Nigerian schools, and (3) Kaduna State secondary school principals are very strict disciplinarians. The major recommendation of the study is that the Ministry of Education of Kaduna State conduct another study as soon as possible involving large groups of secondary school administrators and teachers both in the urban, suburban and rural areas to determine factors that are directly attributable to school effectiveness in the state