1.1 Introduction
The existence of factors influencing educational effectiveness in a positive way should be expected even more in those schools where a majority of children with low socio-economic status are being taught. This is why it is important to get an overview and summary of the factors that may determine the quality of educational activity in schools, and, via this, student achievement. All institution seeks to improve productivity by concentrating emphasis on managerial effectiveness that aims to help managers get the best out of their staff just as themselves. Mintzberg et al (2010) define a manager is someone having an impact in the organization on others, may be the president, prime minister, organization executive, director, official, administrator, headmaster or headmistress, etc.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Educational objectives can be met through educational management by applying management principals in the planning, creation and impact of resources in secondary schools. Education takes place in our schools and national educational objectives' achievement or failure is decided there (Orora, 2003). Accomplishment of this goal requires applying appropriate management skills by school executives. Any secondary school's head teacher has a vital responsibility in the classroom to perform administrative duties. The attainment of intended educational goals results from optimal school’s management therefore relies on the head teacher's working with all teachers to optimize their expertise in the field. The head teacher's insightful and virtuous inputs are more likely to enhance instructor guidance and performance in the school.
Drucker (2001) considers these contributions as essential characteristics of school managers because among other things, their leadership roles allow them to have knowledge of personnel management. Throughout the case of a school head teacher with the management obligation of a teacher team this is vindicate.
Karen and Kenneth (2004) agree that, among other main functions, principals shape a vision of academic success for all students, build an environment that is hospitable to education, foster leadership in others, and strengthen teaching, managing people and data processes to improve the schools. Improving school leadership is high on the list of priorities for school changes today; a comprehensive 2010 report by the Wallace found leadership as one of the most pressing issues on a list of concerns in public school education.
According to Andrews (2008) in any school principals, assistant directors, teachers, and parents have a varied patterns of leadership but the principal serves as main leader.
Writing on leadership, Andrews (2008) wrote about leadership that successful directors set up a school-wide framework of dedication to high expectations and all students’ achievement as per their responsibilities. Anderson and Seashore (2004) furthers argued that a successful principal ensures that the faculty picks up on the notion of academic achievement for everyone and embraces an extensive learning development program focusing on student progress goals. Principals who are rated high by teachers for developing a positive educational environment in their schools often rated high than other faculty members for spurring leadership.
Brandley and Michael (2003) summarized five of the principal's main responsibilities forming for all students a vision of academic success, one based on high academic standards, creating an environment hospitable to education with a view to ensuring stability, a cooperative spirit and other foundations of productive interaction. Develop leadership in others to encourage teachers and other adults to engage in the realization of the school vision; Improving teaching so that teachers can teach at their best and students can learn at their best. The duty of handling human capital at their schools is assigned to head teachers. Their managerial conduct has substantial negative or positive effects. Good head teachers typically pay attention on preparing, organizing and promoting the work without neglecting their interpersonal relations with the supporting staff and the student body.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Managerial Skills Factors needed in determining the Achievements of Students.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the management in school should always be effective at all times, because any ineffective managerial skills will be useless to the teaching profession. Such inefficiency may not necessarily be caused by individual teacher characteristics such intellectual capacity, inadequate training, and resistance to modern pedagogical methods, or poor attitude about the teaching profession and a lack of dedication to professional duties (Hakielimu, 2008) but also from the students' characteristics such as family background, students' predisposition to learn.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to scrutinize the Managerial Skills Factors needed in determining the Achievements of Students. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To determine the influence of head teachers’ managerial skills on students ‘academic performance at secondary school level.
- To found the influence of motivation by head teachers on students ‘academic performance at secondary school level.
- To explore the effect of effective communication of head teachers on students ‘academic performance at secondary school level.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- How does the head teachers’ level of managerial skill affect students’ academic performance?
- In which way does the head teachers’ motivation in school affect students’ academic performance?
- What is the effect of effective communication of head teachers on students’ academic performance at secondary school level?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: Teachers’ level of managerial skill does not affect students’ academic performance at secondary school level
- H1: Teachers’ level of managerial skill affect students’ academic performance at secondary school level
1.7 Significance of Study
This study will be of immense benefit to academic students and other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on Managerial Skills Factors needed in determining the Achievements of Students.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
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