PRINCIPALS' ADMINISTRATIVE INGENUITY AND THЕ EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OBUDU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

ABSTRACT The study sought to assess and investigate how the proficiency, creativity and resourcefulness of principals affect the management of public secondary schools in Obudu Local Government of Cross River State, Nigeria. Five research questions were posed and five research hypotheses formulated to guide the study. The study adopted the survey research design. The population consisted of 501 teachers from the selected public secondary schools in the area of the study comprising of 60% males and 40%females. The sample consisted of200 teachers selected using the stratified random sampling technique. A researcher- developed instrument titled 'principals' administrative ingenuity and the Effective Management of Public Secondary Schools Questionnaire (PAIEMPSSQ) was used for data collection from the sampled teachers. The statistical tool used for data analysis was Pearson Product Moment Correlation Analysis. The findings reveal that principals' professional competence, supervisory skill, discipline skill, administrative style and methods of generating and managing revenue are significantly related to effective management. The study was carried out in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the secondary school management should organize regular in-service trainings for teachers to update their professional knowledge.