1.1 Introduction
The students’ performance plays an important role in producing the best quality graduates who will become great leader and manpower for the country thus responsible for the country’s economic and social development (Ali et al, 2009). Performance in primary schools is something which everyone expects to be of higher quality because of the roles the sector plays to provide service to the community, on the other hand those who failed to perform better cannot contribute well to the human resources because they don’t have skill needed. Despite of its importance, this has not been implemented effectively thus, many public schools still lack improved performance. As such, an effective school head teacher must deve- lop certain rules for carrying out his functions. These include the development and maintenance of the organization’s structure and the recognition of future requirements (Aliyu, 2003).
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
The education system as a social organization has numerous sub-systems or levels that are managed to ensure some coherence and continuity. To successfully achieve this, records must be safely kept and managed. Information is every organization's most basic and essential asset and in common with any other business assets recorded information requires effective management. In the past, record management was used to refer only to the management of records which are no longer in everyday use but still needed to be kept semi current records often stored in basement or offsite. More recent usage tends to refer to the entire life circle of records from the point of creation right until their eventual disposal. This school records are official documents, books and file containing essential and crucial information of actions and events which are kept and preserved in the school office for utilization and retrieval of information when needed. The inculcation of academic knowledge, skills, abilities and proficiency among the individuals is enhanced through learning and academic performance. In secondary schools, there are numerous factors that contribute an important part in enhancing the academic performance of students. The academic performance determines the future goals and objectives of students.
Egwumyega, (2005) suggested that not all information can be considered as records until they satisfy such characteristics geniueity and authenticity, that is the information that the records given must be time, correct, and original, records must be comprehensive available, accessible and secured. However, record management is defined as the field of management responsible for the efficient and systemic control of the creation receipt, maintenance, use and disposition of records, including the process for capturing and maintaining evidence of and information about business activities transactions in the firm of records.
In this regard, Adeyemi (2004) enumerated the duties of the school head teacher as including responsibility to pupils, responsibility to staff, financial transactions, public relations and the evaluation of schools’ programmes. In doing this, the school head teacher should establish channels of communication between himself and his staff. Effective communication between the head teacher and his staff can be brought about through the administration of instructional programmes, administration of personnel, administration of school’s community relations as well as the administration of school business such as budgeting, financing and purchase of materials.
According to Durosara (2002), records are important tools for effective planning and administration of school, so it is impossible to effectively plan and administer any formal organization which records are either not kept or mismanaged. Records that are kept in any educational system are numerous some are mandatory and others are optional or discretional such records are grouped into statutory and non statutory records. Statutory records includes admission or withdrawal register, attendance register, scheme of work, time table, log book, visitors book, time movement books, school diary, lesson plan note for teachers, examination record book etc. non statutory records includes cash book, staff minutes book, school magazine, stock book, punishment book, school calendar, inventory book, inspection or supervision report file, confidential report firms and requisite book.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Effective Management of Primary Schools in Ekiti State.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that irrespective of the importance of school records in the achievement of educational objectives, these records do not seem to be adequately managed by school principals. In Nigeria today getting accurate and reliable data has been a long letting problem. Egwunojenga (2009) emphasized that record management practice in Nigerian primary schools has a number of factors militating against it. These factors includes: insufficient skilled and experienced record management personnel, Law priority of record management in the scheme of things. Undurable and bulky materials for records, inadequate storage space. However, many principals complain of shortage of trained personnel, funds and materials resources. All these could possibly have serious effect on management of school records by primary school principals in Oredo local Government Area of Edo State.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Effective Management of Primary Schools in Ekiti State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To determine the difference in the management of human resources and the management of physical resources in primary schools in the area under study;
- To examine the performance level of pupils in public examinations of primary schools in the area under study;
- To find out the difference in the effective management of large and small primary schools in the area under study;
- To examine the level of teachers’ job performance of primary schools in the area under study; and
- To determine the level of head teachers’ management effectiveness of primary schools in the area under study.
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:
- Is there any difference in the management of human resources and the management of physical resources in primary schools in the area under study?
- Is there any difference in the effective management of large and small primary schools in the area under study?
- Is there any difference in the effective management of urban and rural primary schools in the area under study?
- What is the performance level of pupils in public examinations of primary schools in the area under study?
- What is the level of teachers’ job performance of primary schools in the area under study?
- What is the level of head teachers’ management effectiveness of primary schools in the area under study?
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: There is no significant difference in the management of human resources and the management of physical resources in primary schools in the area under study
- H1: There is significant difference in the management of human resources and the management of physical resources in primary schools in the area under study
Hypothesis Two
- H0: There is no significant level of head teachers’ management effectiveness of primary schools in the area under study
- H1: There is significant level of head teachers’ management effectiveness of primary schools in the area under study
1.7 Significance of Study
The study will provide useful information to the educational planners and administrators, and It is hoped that the study would identify the major problems facing the management of school records by school principal and to suggest possible solutions to tackle these problems. This study would be also being of help to those who may want to research into this very problem in the future.
This study will be of immense benefit to 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 the Effective Management of Primary Schools in Ekiti State.
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).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Records: Records are an items or collection of data that is develop as a result of series of activities that takes place over period of time.
School: A place / institution of learning, where people go to be learn a particular subject or skill.
School Records: School records are official documents, books and files containing essential and crucial information of actions and events which are kept and preserved in the school office for utilization and retrieval of information when needed. Such records are kept by principals, teachers, councilors or administrative staff.
