CLOUD-BASED SCHOOL RECORD MANAGEMENT AND CONFIDENTIAL COUNSELLING DATA PROTECTION IN PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined thecloud-based school record management and confidential counselling data protection in private secondary schools in Kaduna State, Nigeria. A correlational survey design was utilisedin the study.The sample of 375 respondentswas drawn from a population of 6,200 using Yamane's formula and proportionate stratified random sampling. Data were gathered using a standardised questionnaire devised by the researchers. The instrument was validatedby  three experts and it demonstrated a Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of 0.84. Out of 375 disseminated copies, 365 were collected and examined using mean, standard deviation, and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation at a significance level of 0.05. Findings indicated that cloud-based systems were employed to a modest degree, data protection measures for confidential counselling records were only marginally sufficient, exhibiting significant deficiencies in policy formulation, security assessments, and breach response protocols. Insufficient infrastructure, elevated expenses, restricted training, and lack of institutional policy were recognised as primary obstacles. Two null hypotheses were rejected, establishing substantial positive correlations between the utilisation of cloud-based systems and the protection of counselling data (r = .623), as well as between the sufficiency of data protection measures and the secrecy of counselling records (r = .591). The paper advocates for thorough data governance principles, enhanced cloud integration, and regulatory enforcement in accordance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.