MANAGERIAL SKILLS AND ADMINISTRATIVE PERFORMANCE OF HEADS OF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN THE SAGNARIGU DISTRICT DIRECTORATE OF THE GHANA EDUCATION SERVICE

Abstract

The study was carried out in ten Junior High Schools in the Sagnarigu District Directorate of the Ghana Education Service in the Northern Region of Ghana. The purpose of the study was to investigate the Managerial Skills and Administrative Performance of Heads of Junior High Schools. The study used the concurrent mixed method which employed the quantitative and qualitative approaches. Sixty (60) accessible head teachers responded to the questionnaire, whilst six (6) circuit supervisors and the District training officer were interviewed. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to anaylse questionnaire data and this was presented in percentage, frequencies and in tables. Descriptive analysis was used to analyse data from interview. The study established that head teachers in the Sagnarigu District Directorate of the Ghana Education Service in the Northern Region of Ghana required managerial skills before the assumption of headship. It was also reveal that planning skills were the most require by newly appointed head teachers. The others in the order of appraisal, delegation, motivational, supervisory, conflict managing, managing time and stress and team-building skills. The study established that head teachers were seldom given managerial skills training and the reasons were lack of funds, lack of professional trainers, and reliance on donor agencies among others. It is recommended that newly appointed head teachers should necessarily be given managerial skills training by the Sagnarigu District Directorate of the Ghana Education Service irrespective of their constrain.