ASSESSMENT OF PRINCIPAL’S ROLE ON THE PROVISION OF STUDENTS’ SERVICES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was onassessment of principal’s role on the provision of students’ services in secondary schools in Cross River State, Nigeria. The study has two objectives which are;Evaluate principal’s role on the provision of guidance and counselling service and assesses principal’s role on the provision of library service in secondary schools in Cross River State. Two research questions, two null hypotheses asked and formulated respectively. Related literature was reviewed along with fourteen (14) empirical studies. Descriptive research design was adopted for the study. A total of 387 respondents were sampled from the total population of 2,3667, through the use of research advisor (2006). A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. The data collected were presented in tables and analysed using weighted means to give the responses of respondents to the research questions. The nine null hypotheses were tested using One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 0.05 alpha level of significance. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the bio- data of the respondents. The findings of the study among others were that: most principals provided offices and assigned teacher(s) for counselling services in secondary schools in Cross River State and that most secondary schools do not have standard school library, where they exist, they are been managed by the school principals in secondary schools in cross river state.It was recommended among others that; all secondary schools in cross river state should be provided with guidance and counselling offices with the required facilities and trained personnel and the government and other stakeholders should collaborate in the provision of library and it’s facilities in secondary schools.The study concluded that Principals of secondary schools as administrative heads are in the best position to use resources under their control to achieve set goals of the school are founded on the principle of providing students services which helps to foster the development of students’ competencies, life skills and habit of academic excellence.