LEADERSHIP AS A CRITICAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT REQUIRES EFFECTIVE ATTENTION ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATIONAL STANDARD IN ENUGU EDUCATION ZONE OF ENUGU STATE

Abstract

The study was on Leadership as a critical responsibility that requires effective attention on the improvement of educational standard in Enugu Education Zone of Enugu State. The main purpose of this study was to study was to explore leadership as a tool for improvement of educational standard in Enugu Education Zone. Design of the study was descriptive survey. The study was carried out in Enugu Education Zone of Enugu State.The population of the study comprises of the principals and teacher of Secondary Schools in Enugu Education Zone. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire of Fifty (50) teachers and students who were randomly selected from five (5) secondary schools. The instrument wasface validated. Test retest was used for the reliability of the study. Form the findings of the study it was concluded that Democratic leadership style is the least used leadership style by principals. In this style, there is high consultation before making decisions. Giving teachers autonomy in decision making about improving academic performance was less used. Teachers were in agreement with the principals on consultation before making decisions. It was also recommended that the directorate of quality assurance standards and Federal Ministry of Education can use the findings to formulate training programmes for principals of the public secondary schools. These programmes should be focused to use of transformational, democratic and transactional leadership styles to improve standard of education through principal leadership.