ASSESSMENT OF PRINCIPALS’ ROLE ON SCHOLARS’ SERVICE DISTRIBUTION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ABUJA MUNICIPAL AREA COUNCIL, ABUJA NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to assess the Principals‟ Role on Students‟ Service Delivery in Secondary Schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council. Abuja, Nigeria. Seven objectives were postulated in line with research questions and null hypotheses that guided the study. The objectives were set to: assess the principals‟ role on students‟ health care services, guidance and counseling services, recreational services, hostel accommodation services, library/ICT services, security service and principals‟ role on students‟ cafeteria services in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council. The following were some of the research questions and null hypotheses ; what way do the principals perform role on students‟ health care services in secondary schools in Abuja municipal area council?, how do  principals perform role on students‟ guidance and counseling services? And what is the principals‟ role on students‟ security services? On null hypotheses, there is no significant difference in the opinions of principals, teachers and students on the principals‟ role on students‟ hotel accommodation services and there is no significant difference in the opinions of principals, teachers and students on the principals‟ role on students‟ cafeteria services in secondary schools in Abuja municipal area council. The study used descriptive survey design. The total population of the study comprised of 21 principals, 1,476 teachers and 21,246 students making total of 22,743. A total of 1305 questionnaire were distributed, 5 principals, 204 teachers and 1096 students were sampled. The selection of sample size was based on the recommendation of Krejcie and Morgan (1970) in Cohen, Manion and Marrson (2000) table of sample determination. Stratified sapling technique was used. The instrument used for the data collection was structured questionnaire developed by the researcher. The instrument was validated by the supervisors. To ensure the reliability of the instrument, Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used during the pilot study in Abuja Municipal Area Council. This yielded a reliability coefficient of r= 0.85 at significant level of 0.05. Seven (7) null hypotheses were tested using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The result revealed that: That principals instructed students to visit health care centre whenever they were sick and ensured that qualified nurses were in the school health care centre in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council. Principals closely monitored and prevent students from drugs addiction and cultism and Principal ensured food sold to students meet the required balance diet and also ensured price fair is within the reach of the students in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council. In conclusion therefore, principals provided modern security gadget to assist security personnel to protect the students and principals also provided the resources for the security unit to produce students‟ identification cards. The study recommended that, provision of hostel accommodation services with water supply, light, lobbying space, rules and regulations should be introduced in the secondary schools by the principals, and provision of adequate students‟ library/ICT services with internet services, seats, valuable and resourceful textbooks should be encouraged by the principals in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council.

 

Operational Definition of Terms

Assessment: Assessment can also be defined as a process of gathering information to monitor progress and make educational decisions. It is used to gather evidence about the quality of current principal practices to identifying areas of strength and improvement.

Students’ Services: students‟ services in the school involve all the activities and service that one renders to the students for the achievement of the educational objectives which are not the normal classroom instructions. It can also be refers to as non – instructional programmed or services that aid, supplement and support teaching and learning in the school.

Students’ Healthcare Services: health services connote provision and maintenance of health facilities in the school system. These include drugs, medical equipment, nurses, clinic and storage facilities.

Students’ Guidance and Counseling Service: Guidance and counseling is a professional field which has a broad range of activities, program and services geared toward assisting individuals to understand themselves, their problems, their school environment and their world and also to develop adequate capacity for making wise choices and decisions.

Students’ Recreational Services:  are facilities or equipment provided to assist students exercise their body at a stipulated time. Recreational facilities could be indoor and outdoor such as soccer pitch, hockey field, tennis court, etc. or in-door facilities like badminton court, swimming pool, gymnastic etc.

Students’ Hostel Accommodation services: hostel accommodation services refer to provision of place and facilities required by students to live and aid learning. These include power supply, water supply, toilet facilities and others.  

Students’ Library Services: Libraries are the deposition of knowledge that provide vital under pinning for national development. The library is the bedrock of the school which aimed at providing teaching learning and students‟ services.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT): Technology is application of scientific discovery and the material products to technology. Information and communication technology (ICT) is a collective term covering all those technologies, both hardware and software, dedicated to the capture, storage, processing, transmission, and presentation of information.

Students’ Security Services: Security services are the services rendered to protect the lives of the occupants in the school – students, teachers, non-teaching staff, parents and other visitors

Students’ Cafeteria Services: Students‟ cafeteria services are those services which offers a varied menu and comfortable surroundings enables students to experience a sense of “home” while on campus where they can engage in leisurely conversation and interactive activities

with                                                                their                                                                peers.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content                                                                                                                              Page

Title Page                                                                                                                                i

Declaration                                                                                                                              ii

Certification                                                                                                                            iii

Dedication                                                                                                                               iv

Acknowledgments                                                                                                                  v

Table of Contents                                                                                                                   vi

List of Table                                                                                                                           vii

Abbreviation                                                                                                                           vx

Operational Definition of Terms                                                                                           xiii

Abstract                                                                                                                                   xiv

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1        Background to the Study                                                                                          1

1.2        Statement of the Problem                                                                                         4

1.3        Objectives of the Study                                                                                             6

1.4        Research Questions                                                                                                   7

1.5        Research Hypotheses                                                                                                8

1.6       Basic Assumptions                                                                                                     9

1.7       Signifiance of the Study                                                                                           10

1.8        Scope of the Study                                                                                                   11

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1    Introduction                                                                                                                   12

2.2    Conceptual Framework                                                                                                12

2.2.1 Assessment                                                                                                                    13

2.2.2 Role                                                                                                                               13

 

 

2.2.3 Meaning of Students Services                                                                                        15

2.2.4 Students‟ Health Care Services                                                                                      16

2.2.5 Students‟ Guidance and Counseling Services                                                               16

2.2.6 Students‟ Recreational Services                                                                                     16

2.2.7 Students Hostel Accommodation Services                                                                    17

2.2.8 Students‟ Library/ICT Services                                                                                     17

2.2.9 Students‟ Security Services                                                                                            18

2.2.10 Students‟ Cafeteria Services                                                                                        18

2.3     Theoretical Framework                                                                                                  19

2.4.       Principals‟ Role on Students‟ Healthcare Services in Secondary Schools            21

2.4.1 Aspects of Students‟ Healthcare Service Delivery in Secondary Schools                   22

2.4.2 Uses of Students‟ Healthcare Service Delivery in Secondary School                          25

2.4.3 Challenges to Students‟ Healthcare Service Delivery in Secondary Schools              25

2.5.       Students’ Guidance and Counseling Services in Secondary Schools                     27

2.5.1 Aspects of Students‟ Guidance and Counseling Service Delivery in Secondary

Schools                                                                                                                         29

2.5.2 Uses of Students‟ Guidance and Counseling Service Delivery in Secondary

Schools                                                                                                                         30

2.5.3 Challenges to Students‟ Guidance and Counseling Service Delivery in

Secondary Schools                                                                                                       31

2.6.       Students’ Recreational Services in Secondary Schools                                             32

2.6.1  Aspect of Students‟ Recreational Service Delivery in Secondary Schools                  34

2.6.2  Uses of Students‟ Recreational Service Delivery in Secondary Schools                      34

2.6.3 Challenges to Students‟ Recreational Service Delivery in Secondary Schools             36

 

2.7.      Students’ Hostel Accommodation services in Secondary Schools                             37

2.7.1   Aspect of Students‟ Hostel Accommodation service Delivery in Secondary

Schools                                                                                                                         38

2.7.2 Uses of Students’ Hostel Accommodation service Delivery in Secondary Schools 39

2.7.3   Challenges to Students‟ Hostel Accommodation Service Delivery in Secondary

Schools                                                                                                                         41

2.8.      Students‟ Library/ICT Services in Secondary Schools                                              42

2.8. 2   Uses of Students‟ Library/ICT Service Delivery in Secondary Schools                   47

2.8.3  Challenges to Students‟ Library/ICT Service Delivery in Secondary Schools           48

2.9.      Students’ Security Services in Secondary Schools                                                     49

2.9.1  Aspect of Students‟ Security Service Delivery in Secondary Schools.                        50

 

2.9.2  Uses of Students‟ Security Service Delivery in Secondary Schools                            52

2.9.3  Challenges to Students‟ Security Service Delivery in Secondary Schools                   52

2.10.  Students‟ Cafeteria Services in Secondary Schools                                                     53

2.10.1  Aspect of Students‟ Security Service Delivery in Secondary Schools.                      54

 

2.10.2  Uses of Students‟ Security Service Delivery in Secondary Schools                          55

2.10.3  Challenges to Students‟ Security Service Delivery in Secondary Schools                 55

2.11     Empirical Studies                                                                                                         56

2.12     Summary                                                                                                                      63

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1       Introduction                                                                                                                  65

3.2       Research Design                                                                                                          65

3.3       Population of the Study                                                                                               65

3.4       Sample and Sampling Technique                                                                                67

3.5       Instrumentation                                                                                                            67

3.5.1 Validity of the Instrument                                                                                               68

 

 

3.5.2 Pilot Study                                                                                                                       68

3.5.3 Reliability of the Instrument                                                                                           69

3.6 Procedure for Data Collection       69 3.7 Procedure for Data Analysis        69

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1      Introduction                                                                                                                   71

4.2      Analysis of Demographic Information                                                                         71

4.3    Answering of Research Questions                                                                                  72

4.3.1    Respondents‟ Opinion on Principals Role on Students‟ Health Care Service

Delivery in Secondary Schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council.                            73

4.3.2 Respondents‟ Opinion on Principals Role on Students‟ Guidance and   Counseling Service Delivery in Secondary Schools in Abuja Municipal Area

Council                                                                                                                         74

4.3.3  Respondents‟ Opinion on Principals‟ Role on Students‟ Recreational Service

Delivery in   Secondary Schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council. 4.3.4    Respondents‟ Opinion on Principals Role on Students‟ Hostel  Accommodation Service Delivery in Secondary Schools in Abuja	76
Municipal Area Council. 4.3.5   Respondents‟ Opinion on Principals Role on Students‟ Library/ICT Service	78
Delivery in Secondary Schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council. 4.3.6   Respondents‟ Opinion on Principals‟ Role on Students‟ Security Service	80
Delivery in Secondary Schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council. 4.3.7   Respondents‟ Opinion on Principals Role on Students‟ Cafeteria Service	82
Delivery in Secondary Schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council.	86
4.4       Hypotheses Testing	85
4.5       Summary of the Findings	96

 

4.6      Discussion of Major Findings                                                                                      97

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1      Introduction                                                                                                                 106

5.2      Summary                                                                                                                     106

5.3      Conclusions                                                                                                                 108

5.4      Recommendations                                                                                                       109

5.5      Suggestions for Further Studies                                                                                  109

References                                                                                                                   111

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study

Education in Nigeria has been rated high esteem and accorded high priority. So, the demand for education has become unequivocal by both government and individual members of the society. The qualitative education at all levels be it primary, secondary and tertiary institution must be acquired by Nigerians. Secondary level of education serves as a foundation or stepping stone for tertiary education and equally serves as a means through self-employment if the candidate cannot proceeds to achieve tertiary education. Secondary education needed to be properly structured to avoid the foundation from been shaking, in order not to lead to national disaster. To concretize this effort, all the stakeholders in secondary education must make their best input in order to ensure that solid foundation is made. The quality of education at the secondary education is the education capable of achieving the overall secondary objectives as stipulated in the nation policy on education

(FGN, 2004).

The broad goals of secondary education shall be to prepare the individual for:

1. Useful living within the society; and
2. Higher education.

In specific term:

• One of the objectives of secondary education is to provide all primary school leavers with the opportunity for education of a higher level irrespective of sex, social status, religious or ethnic background.
• It equally offers diversified curriculum to cater for the differences in talents and opportunities so that they can be good models in the society.
• Trained manpower in the applied science, technology and commerce should be

provided at all sub-professional levels.

• Furthermore, it equally helps in Develop and promotes Nigerian languages, arts and culture in the context of world‟s cultural heritage.
• The objective aimed at inspires students with desire for self-improvement and achievement of excellence.
• It equally fosters national unity with emphasis on the common ties that unite us in our social, economic, cultural, ethnic and religious diversity.
• Another specific objective of secondary education is to raise a generation of people who can think for themselves, respect the view and feeling of others, respect the dignity of labour, appreciate those values specified under our broad national goals and live as good citizens.
• One of the objectives is to provide technical knowledge and vocational skills necessary for agricultural, industrial, commercial and economic development.

 

In secondary school, the principal is the administrator, (Okonkwo, 2011). To this end, his failure and success depends on the principal‟s administrative effectiveness. The principal has formal responsibilities for the provision of students‟ service delivery. Such as health care services, guidance and counseling, recreational services, hostel accommodation, security, library/ICT services, students cafeteria and bookshop services. The principal as an important figure in secondary education should purchase number of qualities that enhance his performances. Odo, (2005) opined that, among other qualities, the following are expected of the principal: commitment, energy, vision, drive, common sense and mental alertness. Peters, (1996) stated that the principal should be wise and capable of moral leadership, academic and professional competent. Provision of students‟ services is very important aspect of education. Education has been described as the bed rock of social change, mobility and transformation all over the world. Countries all over the world agreed that the best way out of bottle neck in the society is through education. However, the educational standard set in the secondary school education must be demanding to meet the yearning of the students and the society, from the perspective of students as a stakeholders in secondary education, ensuring their performance with the provision of students services by the school should be a major concern for the principal (Banwet and Datta, 2003). Since the services offered by school largely impact students level of performance, studies on students‟ service delivery performance should be of great importance to all authorities in education (Webster, 2012; Poturak, 2014). According to Olaniyonu, Adekoya and Gbenu

(2008), secondary schools are established by the government to provide services to students. All these institutions are expected to function and operate the same curricular and admit students that have completed their primary education.

Government is also expected to provide the necessary teaching and learning facilities such as classroom, instructional materials, libraries, laboratories, recreational facilities and other students‟ services. Secondary education in Nigeria is said to be occupying important position in the nation, this is in consonant with consumer and producer status. I.e. consuming the produce of the primary school and producing candidates for higher education (Yabo, 2006). Ayodele, (2000) opined that no matter how efficient and effective administration is, he hardly achieves success without the support and operation of well qualified and dedicated staff. Qualified staff is the golden egg of educational asset. On the relationship between the provision of educational students‟ services delivery and students‟ academic performance, Idiaghe, (2004) concludes that teachers‟ qualification and adequate facilities such as libraries, cafeteria, recreational services, guidance and counseling, sick bay, security etc. were determinant of students success and that such students‟ service delivery influence the academic performance of the students. Nwangwu, (1997) said that educational resources facilitate teaching and learning processes.

1.2       Statement of the Problem

Provision of health care services in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council is not visible in some schools. The first – aid boxes are not adequately equipped, and as a result of this, AMAC chairman embarked on replenish the first-aid boxes in 2013. Despite this, some secondary schools are not closer to the primary and secondary health care especially schools in the rural areas. FCT SEB, (2015). In the event that there is an outbreak of any disease, such as cholera, snake bite and accident, students will be prevented from attending to their lessons, wasting of time or time lost, and above all a lot of financial resource will be spent. A stitched in time saves nine.

More so, Nwachukwu, (2007) identified guidance and counseling services which include placement services, referral services, evaluation, follow-up, counseling services, appraisal services, vocational guidance services, consultancy and research services. So, as a vital component of secondary school services, the absence of non-utilization of these services in the present school system led to the unprecedented rise in the crime wave, violence among students, fuelled cultism, wrong career choice and wrong subject combination in the schools.

Recreational facilities include indoors and outdoors facilities like gymnastic, soccer pitch, hockey field, tennis court, table tennis track and field event, swimming facilities to name a few. According to FCT SEB, (2015), some secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council lack some of these services due to limited land mass of the schools. The space of the schools is also small that it cannot accommodate some sporting facilities. Students are expected to be exposing to curricular and extra – curricular activities. So, lack of recreational services in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council in no small way affect the academic performance of the students.

A hostel is a building that houses students. Hostel were initially meant for students whose house were far from the schools, but recently, even students from the same town are opting for hostel accommodation. Appropriate academic environment basically provides learning tendencies that enable students to work privately after classroom learning so as to attain mastery of their studies. Some secondary schools in Abuja municipal area council are not provided with hostel accommodation. Students are forced to stay with their parents at home and face a lot of domestic activities which will lead to wasting of their precious time that supposed to have been spent on their studies. Furthermore, some students have to travel long distance before getting to school. In some cases, female students are afraid of been kidnap, rape and attack by hoodlum or bad boys. So, lack or bad hostel accommodation constitutes a constraint to learning process thereby affect students‟ academic performances.

The library is the bedrock of the school which aimed at providing teaching learning and students‟ services. Libraries are the deposition of knowledge that provide vital under pinning for national development, lack of library/ICT services in some secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council deprived students of reading and research culture.

It is obvious that with the current security challenges in the country, some secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council need to be adequately secured. The perimeters of some of the school premises are not fenced. There by exposed the occupants, – students, teachers, and non – teaching staff including the visitors to risk of being attack. It is equally noticed that few security personnel were employed to secure schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council, without adequate and modern security gazettes. It is equally disheartening to see old men who had worked and retired employed as security personnel leaving young energetic work force out of the system. Students are being adopted or kidnap today from various schools across the country there by creating fear and anxiety and consequently affecting their academic performance.

Some secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council are not provided with school cafeteria. Foods are sold by food vendors who are not adequately regulated and supervised. The foods sold by the food vendors do not a times contained enough balance diet, equally the hygienic conditions of the vendors and the environment called for serious concern. Students may get sick from eating unbalanced diet which deprived them from attending to their studies. This incidentally affects their academic performance.

 

1.3       Objectives of the Study

The study was to achieve the following objectives:

1. Assess principals‟ role on students‟ health care service delivery in secondary schools

in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja;

2. Determine principals‟ role on students‟ guidance and counseling service delivery in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja;
3. Examine principals‟ role on students‟ recreational service delivery in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja;
4. Ascertain principals‟ role on students‟ hostel accommodation service delivery in

secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja;

5. Find out the principals‟ role on students‟ library/ICT service delivery in secondary

schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja;

6. Determine principals‟ role on students‟ security service delivery in secondary schools

in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja; and

7. Assess principals‟ role on students‟ cafeteria service delivery in secondary schools in

Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja.

 

1.4         Research Questions

          The following research questions were formulated to guide the study.

1. What way do the principals perform role on students‟ health care service delivery in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja?
2. How do principals perform role on students‟ guidance and counseling service delivery in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja?
3. What is the principals‟ role on students‟ recreational service delivery in secondary

schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja?

4. How do principals perform role on students‟ hostel accommodation service delivery in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja?
5. What way do principals perform role on students‟ library/ICT service delivery in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja?
6. What is the principals‟ role on students‟ security service delivery in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja?
7. What way do principals perform role on students‟ cafeteria service delivery in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja?

 

1.5       Research Hypotheses

The following hypotheses were formulated:

Ho1:	There is no significant difference in the opinions of principals, teachers and students on the principals‟ role on students‟ health care service delivery in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja;
Ho2:	There is no significant difference in the opinions of principals, teachers and students on the principals‟ role on students‟ guidance and counseling service delivery in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja;
Ho3:	There is no significant difference in the opinions of principals, teachers and students on the principals‟ role on students‟ recreational service delivery in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja;
Ho4:	There is no significant difference in the opinions of principals, teachers and students on the principals‟ role on students‟ hostel accommodation service delivery in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja;
Ho5:	There is no significant difference in the opinions of principals, teachers and students on the principals‟ role on students‟ library/ICT service delivery in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja;
Ho6;	There is no significant difference in the opinions of principals, teachers and

students on the principals‟ role on students‟ security service delivery in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja; and

H_o7;                      There is no significant difference in the opinions of principals, teachers and

students on the principals‟ role on students‟ cafeteria service delivery in secondary

schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja.

 

1.6       Basic Assumptions

The study was based on the following assumptions that:

1. Provision of students‟ health care services by secondary school principals in Abuja Municipal Area Council improves the health status of the students and thereby improves the academic performance of the students in the schools;
2. Principals of secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council provide students with guidance and counseling services which in turns helps in stimulating students‟ direction and academic performances;

• Recreational services provided by secondary school principals in Abuja Municipal Area Council improve all round development of the students;
• Provision of hostel accommodation services by secondary school principals in Abuja Municipal Area Council induced students learning capacity in the schools;
• Provision of library/ICT services by secondary school principals in Abuja Municipal

Area Council equally improves students‟ reading/research culture in the schools;

• Provision of students‟ security services by principals of secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council helps students to concentrate on their studies; and
• Provision of students‟ cafeteria services in secondary schools by the principals help in refreshing students and optional diet in the schools.

 

 

1.7       Significance of the Study

The principals‟ role on the provision of students‟ service delivery in the education of young children as leaders of tomorrow is unequivocal and has far reaching consequences on the tone of the school, if these services are not provided it will have negative consequences on the academic performances of the students. Again, it has led to distortion of school academic calendar at one time or the other in the life of Nigeria educational system.

Therefore, this study is significant because the finding will be useful to:

The primary beneficiaries who are principals, teachers and the students in that, it will           enable principals to provide students‟ services which will in turn improved teachers capacities and academic performances of the students.

The result of the study will be of useful to the ministry of education in the realization of providing students‟ services in various secondary schools in Abuja.

The finding of the study will provide useful information and data to the lawmakers and policy makers on the role play by the principals in the provision of students‟ services in secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council.

The information gathered will equally broaden the knowledge of other stakeholders in secondary schools on the importance of providing students‟ services.

Finally, other researchers will find this study as sources of secondary literature in the research of the related topic like the impact of students‟ services on the learning climate, and assessment of the management of students‟ services facilities.

 

1.8       Scope of the Study

The study is concerned with the provision of students‟ service delivery by the principals in public secondary schools in order to improve teaching and learning and enhances students‟ academic performances in Abuja Municipal Area Council. There are five zones in Abuja Municipal Area Council which comprises of Airport Road, City Centre,

Gwagwa-Karimo, Karshi and Nyanya Zones. The study focused on the Assessment of

Principals‟ Role on Students‟ Service Delivery in Secondary Schools in Abuja Municipal

Area Council. Abuja, Nigeria.

ASSESSMENT OF PRINCIPALS’ ROLE ON SCHOLARS’ SERVICE DISTRIBUTION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ABUJA MUNICIPAL AREA COUNCIL, ABUJA NIGERIA