A PRINCIPALS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ADAMAWA STATE

The need for principals to be able to manage conflict effectively in secondary schools
necessitated thisstudy. The study isto assessthe extent the principals in secondary schools
in Adamawa State utilize conflict management strategies in their school administration.
Two research questions guided the study and two null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level
of significance. Descriptive survey research design was adopted and 385 principals were
studied without sampling. A five point rating scale questionnaire containing 18items was
used for data collection. The instrument was validated by experts. Test-retest method was
used to establish the reliability of the instrument. Pearson Product Moment Correlation was
used for the analysis and the clusters yielded coefficients of 0.76 and 0.82, with an overall
coefficient of 0.84. Three hundred and sixty duly completed copies of the instrument were
retrieved and used for data analysis. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer
the research questions and to determine the homogeneity of the respondents' ratings while
the z- test was used to test the hypotheses. Findings revealed that secondary school
principals in Adamawa State utilized competitive strategy to a great extent while
collaboration strategy was used to a moderate extent. Gender did not influence the
respondents' choice of adopting competitive strategies in resolving conflicts while there
was a significant difference in the mean ratings of principals in urban and rural secondary
schools on the use of collaboration as a conflict management strategy. Based on the
findings, it was concluded that secondary school principals in Adamawa State were using
appropriate strategies in resolving conflicts. It was therefore recommended among others
that institutions and government should train teachers in conflict resolution strategies
beforeappointing themasprincipals.

Strategies, Conflict management Strategies, Principals,

View PDF

Adamawa State Ministry of Education. (2015). A handbook. Yola: Jo Prints.
Adesina, S. (2000). Educational management in Nigeria. Lagos: Fourth Dimension
Publishing Co. Ltd.
Akinwonmi, O. O. (2005). Conflict and conflict resolution in schools: Implications for
educational administration. In A. A. Adenokun (Ed.), Aspects of Educational
Administration for Colleges and Universities. Ogun: Samrol Venture & Printing Co.
Anashie, A. B. & Kulo, V. (2014). Conflict resolution strategies of Nigerian secondary
schools' administrators for peace and economic development. African Education
Indices 7(1), 2-12.
Ezegbe, C. (2005). Management of conflict. The Nigerian perspective. Africana
Publishers.
Federal Republic of Nigeria. (2013). National Policy on Education (6
th
Ed.). Lagos:
NERDCs
Johannsen, H., & Page, G. T. (2006). International dictionary of management: An
important contribution to communication, national and international. 5th Ed.
London: Kogan Page Limited.
Jones, M. L., Blunt, P. & Sharma, K. C. (2004). Managerial perceptions of leadership and
management in an African public service organisation. Journal of Public
Administration andDevelopment, 16(5), 455467.
McNamara (2007). Basis of conflict management. New York: Authenticity Consulting
LLC.
McPheat, S. (2012). 13 ways great leaders develop their teams. Boston: Oxford Press.
Miller, C. A. (2003). A glossary of terms and concepts in peace and conflict studies.
Geneva: University for Peace.
Morgan,J.P.(2012). Effective leadershipinanorganization.New YorkPress.
Njoku, B. C. (2004). The role of teachers in the resolution of conflicts in secondary
schoosl. Retrieved from: http//www.unedu.ng/index 10/4/2015.
Obi, E. (2004). Issues in educational administration. Enugu: Empathy International.
Ogundiran, S. O. (2008). Location disparity, school type and resource allocation as
predictors of students' performance in Lagos State secondary schools.
(Unpublished PhD Thesis). Department of education administration and
planning. Nigeria:University of Lagos.
Robbins, S. P. (2000). Organizational behaviour (9th Ed.). New Delhi: Prentice-Hall of India Saddler,P.(2002).Conflictmanagementandleadership. London:CoopersandLybrand.
Tosi, A., Rizzo, T. & Carroll, P. (2010). Effective management. London: Hatts
publications.
Truter, I. (2003). Conflict management strategy. South African pharmaceutical journal,
70(5), 5-15.
Udida, L. A. (2001). The perception of male and female principals' leadership roles in
Cross River State secondary schools. International journal of social science and
public policy. 4(1), 119-124.
Weihrich, H., &Koontz, H. (2005). Management; A global perspective.New Dehli: Tata
McGraw-Hill publishing company limited.
Wilmot,W.W.,&Hocker,J.(2011). Interpersonal conflict(8th Ed.).NewYork: McGrawHill.