LEADERSHIP STYLES OF HEADTEACHERS AS A DETERMINANT OF TEACHERS JOB PERFORMANCE
ABSTRACT
The study aimed at examining the leadership style of Head Teachers as a determinant of teachers performance in Oji River LGA. The study adopted a descriptive survey research method, it comprises of all the eleven (11) head teachers and 87 teachers teaching in the Oji River Government Secondary School. A total sample size of 98 teachers we randomly selected as respondent teachers for the study. A questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection of this study. Findings revealed that the head teachers disagreed that they were autocratic in their leadership styles with a mean of 3.7 as teachers themselves viewed their headers as possessing the democratic leadership style. The findings also revealed that teachers were satisfied with the working conditions in the school, shown with an average mean of 3.6. The study recommends that school administration should come up with modalities of improving teachers job performance. The head teachers should also enhance their supervisory support to enhance teachers job satisfaction. Finally, head teachers should recognize and reward teachers for the job well done in the school.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Approval page ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iii
Abstract iv
Table of Content v
CHAPTER ONE : INTRODUCTION 1
Background of the study 4
Statement of the Problem 4
Purpose of the study5
Research questions 6
Significance of the study 7
Scope of the study 7
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 9
Conceptual framework 10
Theoretical framework 34
Empirical studies 36
Summary of LiteratureReview39
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY41
Research design 41
Area of study 42
Population of the study 42
Sample and sampling technique 42
Instrument for Data collection 43
Validation of the Instrument 44
Reliability of the Instrument 44
Method of Data Collection 45
Method of Data Analysis 45
CHAPTER FOUR:DATA ANALYSIS47
Data presentation and Analysis 47
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 51
Discussion of Findings 51
Conclusion 52
Implication of the Study 54
Recommendations 54
Limitations of the Study 55
Suggestions for further studies 55
Summary of the Study 56
References 58
Appendices 64
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Leadership style is the manner and approach of providing direction, implementing plans, and motivating people, Sergon (2009). As seen by the employees, it includes the total pattern of explicit and implicit actions performed by their leader (Davis, 2013). The conditions of teachers’ working life are influenced by the administration and leadership provided by principals, and it is widely assumed that school leadership directly influences the effectiveness of teachers and the achievement outcomes of students (Hallinger and Murphy, 2012).
According pretomode (2010) leadership is the component part of management which is concerned with facilitating the accomplishment of the objectives of an organization through the systematic management of constraints and careful utilization of the available limited resources which include human, material, equipment, suppliers, finance, space and work techniques or technology.
Balogun (2012) noted that leadership action is directed towards the analysis of policies, the identification of options and to a substantial degree, the implementation of programmes as well as the efficient allocation of resources in addition to all these calculated decisions, a typical administrative action takes in to consideration the enduring and the goals of the organization as well as the environment within which the action take place.
Ozigi (2009) defined a leader as an individual who directs the affairs of an organization in such a way as to achieve goals and objectives and who can get things done quickly by men.
In the words of John Vieg in Olewe (2010), leadership is a determined action taken in pursuit of conscious purpose. It is the systematic ordering of affairs and the calculated use of resources, aimed at making those things happen which we went to happen and simultaneously preventing development that fail to square with our intentions.
Education is more of a government enterprise, although some individuals are striving within their power to get schools back in the hands of private individuals. One recognition therefore should be accorded education by Nigerian educational administrators of which head teachers form a part of. According to the National Bureau of statistics, the teacher plays a vital role in education. In order to make children learn, the teacher arouses their interests and engages them in the classroom activities.
A teacher is a person who has undergone a professional training in the field of education in order to teach or impart knowledge to the students in the society. The teacher has many roles to play in the education of the child, he or she guides, directs and exposes the students to a variety of learning experiences which will help them to develop their talents.
The head-teachers is the co-ordinating agent who ensures that teaching and learning are well organized and supervised to suit the age of the learner. Leadership is an integral part of any organization, it is crucial for maintaining and expanding the relevance efficiency and productivity of complex establishments. Hence, the impact of head teachers in the secondary schools system cannot be overemphasized. The survival of any educational organization such as primary schools, secondary schools, colleges and other higher institutions largely depend on qualitative service available. The head teachers also called the principal is the administrative head of a secondary schools. He or she sees to the day to day activities in the school, co-ordinates, directs and controls other teachers in the school going by this definition, it is evident that a head teacher occupies very sensitive position and therefore his or her administrative behaviours can impact positively or negatively on the school system.
Teachers on the other hand faced with many challenges and problems in the classroom situation. Nonetheless, their performances will affect the students either positively or negatively. Teachers motivate, direct and enhance pupils reaction in the classroom, and the teacher has great effect on the students learning. The future of the children is in the hands of teacher, they should make learning enjoyable thereby increasing result to be obtained within the schools. He must guide their activities and behaviours.
The secondary school education has its important specific objectives to achieve within the broad National Education framework. The recent turn of events in the local government really affected the administrative behaviours of head teacher on teachers in government secondary schools in Enugu East local government need critical investigation into the administrative behaviours being exhibited by head teachers in the different secondary schools within the local government.
The ministry of Education organizes workshops, seminars, conferences which address some aspects of secondary education where some of the head teachers and teachers attend and are reminded of the need to exhibit proper administrative behaviours that will impact positively on the secondary school system in Enugu State.
The head teachers skills and insights will enable him to provide the needed leadership for teachers under his care. This is because teachers make the school what they are, and the quality of our education depends upon their competence. The teacher is part of the social fabric and it is essential that he concentrates on the vital skills of being a teacher, and on understanding the consequences of his action. Also, the teacher role varies from being the instructor to being the partner of the students. He understands the students because of his sensitivity to their needs.
Statement of the Problem
Leadership is the interpersonal influence towards attainment of specific goals in specific situations; without leadership, schools were nothing but masses of students. Management of teachers in the school context involves the skillful control and guidance of teachers in order to achieve the school desired outcomes. Schools which consistently perform well tend to have sound and efficient leadership.
From the foregoing, it is evident that the roles expected of teachers are so many and it is therefore incumbent on head teachers to provide proper leadership to enable the teachers perform their task adequately.Because of this lack of co-ordination the leadership style in Oji River Local Government Area has created obvious problems.
Conversely, the head teacher’s performance in secondary schools in Oji River local government is seems to be very poor as compared to their counterparts in other local governments and indeed other states.This research work is geared towards achieving a practical analysis of secondary schools in Oji River with a view to identifying the leadership styles of head teachers in them and proffering useful suggestions on how best to ensure that there is optimal service delivery.
Purpose of the Study
The study focuses on the leadership style of head teachers on the determinant of teacher’sjob performance in secondary schools in Oji River local government area of Enugu state. Specifically, the study is designed to:
i) To examine how autocratic leadership style used by head teachers influence teachers’ levels of job performance in government secondary schools in Oji River LGA.
ii) To assess how democratic leadership style used by the head teachers influence teachers’ job performance in government secondary schools in Oji River LGA.
iii) To establish how Laissez-faire leadership style used by the head teachers influence teachers job performance in government secondary schools in Oji River LGA.
iv) To investigate how head teachers’ Leadership style influence teachers working conditions in the schools.
Research Question
The following questions are addressed as a guide for carrying out this work.
i) How does a head teachers’ autocratic leadership style influence government secondary schools teachers’ level of job performance in Oji River LGA?
ii) To what extent does head teachers’ democratic leadership style influence government secondary schools teachers’ level of job performance in Oji River LGA?
iii) In what way does head teachers laissez-faire leadership style influence government secondary schools teachers’ level of job performance in Oji River LGA?
iv) How does head teachers’ Leadership style influence teachers working conditions in the schools.
Scope of the Study
This project work is designed to find out the leadership style of head teachers as a determinant of teacher performance in secondary schools in Oji River local government area. It covers bothmale and female teachers in eleven(11) government secondary schools in Oji River local government area of Enugu state
Significance of the Study
The result of the project will be of inestimable benefit to the government, school administrators, head teachers, teachers, students, parents and society. The government would benefit from this project in that it will help to shape its future policy formation as it affects administration, and in channeling and directing their attention towards education especially in secondary schools.
Education administrators will benefit from the outcome of this project in that they will use suggestions preferred here to improve the performance of secondary schools and determine how to direct or administer educational programmes.
Head teachers will benefit mostly from this project in that, it will help them to examine their performance thereby exposing them to their strengths and weakness and help them make amends where necessary.
The study will also help to modify the unscrupulous attitude of some teachers that lead to abuse and neglect of teaching activities. It is fashioned to be of immense benefit to the entire society, research students, students of secondary schools who will be our future hope and leaders, parents etc all stand to benefit from this work.
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