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

Authors

Eucharia Nneka Okeke Department of Early Childhood & Primary Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Author
Tonia Chigbo-Obasi Department of Early Childhood & Primary Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Author
Doris Ifeoma Ugwude Department of Early Childhood & Primary Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Author
Jenifer Chizoba Oluwatayo Department of Early Childhood & Primary Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Author

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.

Jenifer Chizoba Oluwatayo, Department of Early Childhood & Primary Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka