AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF STAKEHOLDERS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ZARIA EDUCATION ZONE, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

The success of a school or school district is critically linked to effective decisions. School management can be viewed as harnessing both human and material resources within an integrated system for the attainment of educational goals of a local government, state, nation and private owners through an organised structure that is characterized by management functions such as planning, organizing, directing, supervision and evaluation (Hinjiri, 2007). School management involves initiating actions, monitoring activities and demanding results on the bases of allocated resources as well as policy making, control and supervision as the major functions and responsibility of the School head in the attainment of educational goals.

Staff development has been accepted as an effective method of increasing the knowledge and skills of teachers in order to enable teachers to teach more effectively. According to Lawal (2004), staff development programmes for teachers are important aspects of education process that deal with the art of acquiring skills in the teaching profession. They are essential practices that enhance subject mastery, teaching methodology and classroom management.

Supervision of staff as an important function of management is to enable checks and balances as well as to avoid distortions and deviations from stipulated rules and regulations designed to achieve the goals of the school. Supervision of staff and students calls for a daily routine check on the performance of teachers as well as