PRINCIPALS’ PERCEPTION OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AS A MEASURE FOR ENSURING GOOD GOVERNANCE IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ANAMBRA STATE

The study was carried out to investigate financial accountability as a measure for ensuring good governance in public secondary schools in Anambra state. Two research questions guided the study and two hypotheses were tested at .05 level of significance. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design and the population of the study comprised 263 principals in public secondary schools in Anambra State. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire developed by the researchers. The instrument was validated by three experts in education. The reliability of the instrument was determined through a pilot test. The data collected were analyzed with Cronbach Alpha techniques and coefficient values of 0.80 and 0.85 for clusters B1 and B2 respectively with the average reliability coefficient of 0.82 were established. Mean, standard deviation and t-test were used in analyzing data collected for the study. Findings revealed that principals perceived budgeting and financial reporting as a financial accountability measures for ensuring good governance in public secondary schools in Anambra State. Also, location of principals did not influence their perception. Based on the findings, conclusion was reached. It was recommended that Federal and State Governments should come up with financial accountability framework for checkmating fraud in the secondary school system among others.

Perception, Financial, Accountability, Secondary, Measures, Good Governance,

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