TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND PRINCIPAL DECISION MAKING FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT IN AWKA SOUTH L.G.A

Abstract

This study investigated total quality management in public secondary schools and principal decision making for school improvement in Awka South L.G.A. Three research questions and two hypotheses guided the conduct of the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised 20 male and female principals in all Public Secondary Schools Anambra State. The Sample size for this study is 20 male and female principals drawn from all public secondary schools in Awka South Local Government in Anambra State. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled “Total Quality Management in Public Secondary Schools and Principal Decision Making for School Improvement Questionnaire” (TQMPSSPDMQ) designed by the researchers. The face and content validity of the instrument was established by two experts comprising one in Guidance and Counselling. The instrument was trial-tested on a representative sample of 10 principal Cronbach Alpha method was used to determining the internal consistency of a descriptive survey research.   Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions and Z-test was used to test the hypotheses at .05 level of significance. The findings of the study include: Principal perception on total quality management on decision making for school improvement in Awka South is high. Male and female principal’ perception towards total quality management and principal decision making for school improvement is high. Principal in urban and rural areas indicate that total quality management and principal decision making for school improvement is to be high. There is difference in the perception of male and female teachers on total quality management of principal decision making for school improvement was not significant. There is difference in the perception of principal in urban and rural areas on total quality management and decision making for school improvement was not significant. The study recommends that every principal in secondary schools and any other institution should implement total quality management because total quality management improves the quality of teaching and learning in secondary schools. Male and female principals need feedback to improve on total quality management before making decision in public secondary schools. Principals in urban and rural areas should use total quality management in making decision for school improvement.