Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies: Home

Abstract:
The ability of any school principal to bring about positive changes in his or her school depends, in part, on the extent to which those who will be affected by decisions taken in his or her school are involved the process. In line with the above, this paper is a survey carried out in Awka Education Zone of Anambra State, Nigeria and the focus is on how students can be integrated in decision-making in schools. Four research questions guided the study. All the secondary school principals and students in the zone formed the population of the study. Sample was selected through stratified random sampling and a 20 - item researcher-developed instrument was used to collect the data. Mean Ratings were used to answer the research questions. The findings indicated that students were rarely allowed to participate in decision making. Both principals and students perceived that students' participation in decision making will facilitate supervision of teachers' attendance to classes and as well, enhance quality educational leadership. Relevant recommendations were also made based on the findings. The purpose of study therefore was to investigate students' participation in decision making as a strategy for effective educational leadership in secondary schools in Nigeria. The significance of the study therefore lies in the contributions which the study will make in helping the leadership of secondary schools understand the importance of, and the areas the students could be involved in making decisions in schools since students are the main reasons for school policies activities. There is no doubt that the study will impact positively on the ability of school principals to make effective bottom up, participative, consultative, team and task oriented decisions in their schools.

Keywords: students participation; decision making; educational leadership; secondary education; instructional programme

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