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Accountability by Administrators and School Improvements in Secondary Schools in Rivers State

Nwazue, Lawretta Nkechi

Abstract

This study investigated accountability by administrators and school improvements in secondary schools in Rivers State. Two research questions and two null hypotheses were used for the study. A descriptive research design was adopted for this study. The population for the study consisted of the principals and teachers in the 302 public senior secondary schools spread across the 23 Local government areas of Rivers State, totaling 6,557 academic staff. A sample of 900 academic staff was used for the study, which represents 14% of the total population of the study. This is made up of 100 principals and 800 teachers. The stratified random sampling technique was used for the study. Furthermore, the coefficients index value obtained was 0.86 and therefore the reliability of the instrument was established. The statistical tool used for answering the research questions were Mean and Standard Deviation statistics, while Z-test inferential tool was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 Alpha level of significance. The findings of the study indicated that to a high extent administrators’ accountability in school-community and finance generation ensures that supports are gained from the host communities to meet the needs of the school. Also the findings revealed that administrators’ accountability in budgeting ensures the finance of the school is well utilized. The study concluded that administrators’ accountability leads to smooth improvement of the school to achieve the aims and objectives of the school system. The study therefore, recommended among others that the secondary administrators should be accountable in school-community relationship for them to gain the support of the community in providing facilities for the use of the school. Also, the school administrators should be accountable in budgeting to make decision on the measures that will be taken in mobilizing resources for the school.

Keywords

AccountabilityAdministratorSchool-Community RelationshipFinanceBudgeting.

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