INFLUENCE OF PRINCIPALS’ LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOUR ON TEACHERS’ PRODUCTIVITY: IMPERATIVE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of principals’ leadership behaviour on teachers’ productivity
in secondary schools in Ebonyi state. Two research questions guided the study, while two
hypotheses were formulated and tested at 005 level of significance. Survey research design was
used for the study. The population for the study comprised all the 319 principals and 4,360 teachers in the state-owned secondary schools in Ebonyi state. A sample of 414 principals and teachers (32 principals and 382 teachers) was used for the study. The instrument for data collection was a structured researcher-developed questionnaire comprising 16 items which were divided into two clusters according to the two research questions. The instrument was validated by three experts. The reliability of the instrument was ascertained using Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient formula. The result of the reliability showed that the overall reliability coefficient of the instrument was 0.75, indicating that the instrument was reliable and suitable for use. The research questions were answered with mean and standard deviation while the hypotheses were tested with t-test. From the results of data analyses, it was found among others that the extent to which aloofness as principals’ leadership behaviour influence teachers’ productivity in secondary schools in Ebonyi state was low. It was recommended among others that principals should be encouraged to avoid aloofness in dealing with their subordinates.