Economic Recession Coping Strategies of Principals in the Administration of Secondary Schools in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the economic recession coping strategies of principals in the administration of
secondary schools in Ebonyi State. Four specific objectives, four research questions, and four null
hypotheses guided the study. The design of the study was descriptive survey design. The population
of the study comprised six thousand, one hundred and sixty-five (6,165) principals and teachers
from two hundred and twenty-six (226) public secondary schools in Ebonyi State. The sample of
the study were 376 principals and teachers from 135 public secondary schools in Ebonyi State.
Taro Yamane sampling formula was used to determine the sample size of 376 principals and
teachers because the population is finite. The instrument for data collection was Researcher-made
questionnaire, titled, “Principals’ Economic Recession Coping Strategies Questionnaire”
(PERCSQ). The instrument was validated by three experts; two from the Department of
Educational Foundations (Educational Administration and Planning option) and one lecturer
from the Measurement and Evaluation option of the Department of Science Education, all in
Ebonyi State University Abakaliki. The reliability of was established using the Cronbach Alpha
which yielded an overall reliability index of 0.90. Mean and standard deviation were used to
answer the research questions, while a t-test of the independent sample was used to test the
hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed among other things that purchasing
school facilities based on their priority, ensuring the security of school properties among others
were facilities management strategies of principals in economic recession; and that mandatory
division of labour, involving all teachers’ in decision making, appraising staff that performed well
in their duties among others were the personnel management strategies of principals in economic
recession for administration of secondary schools in Ebonyi State. Based on the findings, the
researchers recommended among other things that Secondary Education Board (SEB) in
conjunction with the State Ministry of Education should organize a workshop to train principals
on the facility and personnel more management strategies needed in the time of economic
recession through workshop, seminar or symposium.