MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES OF PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS IN AWKA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT: THE WAY FORWARD

The study examined the management challenges of public primary school administrators in Awka South Local Government Education Authority as well as the way forward. The study was guided by three research questions. The study was carried out in primary schools in Awka South LGA. Descriptive survey design was used for the study. The population of the study was 45 Head-teachers from the 45 public primary schools in Awka South LGA. There was no sampling because all the 45 Head-teachers were used because the population was small. The instrument for data collection was a 28-item structured questionnaire. The instrument was duly validated by experts and tested for reliability which yielded an average reliability value of 0.84, hence was considered reliable for the study. Data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation for the research questions. The study found among others that the management challenges in public primary schools administration in Awka South Local Government Education Authority, include: over population, family factors, inadequate technological facilities and lack of fund. Furthermore, the study also find out that the school administrators can encourage their teachers to minimize the effect of management challenges on the teachers’ productivity by making teachers know they are important, building professional commitment, building feedback system, understanding what teachers need, helping them help the pupils and taking every opportunity to give verbal praise. Finally the study also found out that the possible way forward to minimize the management challenges in public primary schools administration in Awka South Local Government Education Authority include: adequate funding, professional development, institutionalising adequate supervision and evaluation of instruction and staff in the schools, provision of adequate fund for school management and maintenance, encouraging parental involvement and collaborative partnership in school management. Based on the findings, it was therefore recommended that School administrators should develop innovative ways of managing schools despite the various constraints and government and policymakers should provide the necessary support to ensure that primary schools are adequately resourced and managed effectively. In addition the study also recommended that adequate funds should be provided by the government and organizational agents that support educational activities and also that collaborative partnership should be encouraged between the school and the community among others.

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