INFLUENCE OF PRINCIPALS’ COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES ON TEACHERS’ JOB PERFORMANCE IN IMO STATE PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Abstract

This study determined the influence of school principal’s communication strategies on teachers’ job performance in Orlu zone I and Orlu zone II education zones in Imo State Public Secondary Schools. Three research questions and three null hypotheses guided the conduct of the study. Related literatures were reviewed, which helped to highlight more facts necessary for building the study. Ex-post factor research design was used for the study. The population of the study comprised 6,125(1325 male and 4800 female teachers) in Imo State public secondary schools. Sample and sampling techniques was used and the sample size was 378 teachers (110 male and 268 female) teachers from public secondary schools in Orlu zone I and Orlu zone II education zones. A researcher developed and validated instrument titled: “Influence of Principal’s Communication Strategies (ICPS) on Teachers’ Job Performance (TJP)” was used for data collection. The reliability of the instrument was determined using test and re-test method. The outcome yielded a reliability coefficient of .81.  Mean and standard deviations were used for the data analysis. Findings of the study indicated among others that the use of oral communication strategy, written communication strategy, and non-verbal communication strategy used by the principals influences teachers' job performance positively. There was no significant difference in the mean rating of males and females’ job performances, influenced by oral, written and non-verbal communication strategy used by principal. Based on the findings, it was recommended that principals in public secondary schools should endeavour to improve how they communicate with the teachers in the school through oral, written or non-verbal strategy in order to enhance their job performances.