PRINCIPALS’ ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR QUALITY MANAGEMENT OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ANAMBRA STATE: CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVEMENT

Abstract

This study investigated principals’ alternative sources of funding for the management of secondary schools in Anambra State: challenges and strategies for improvement. Four research questions guided the study. The descriptive survey design was employed in the study. Population for the study constituted 259 public secondary school principals from the 6 education zones in Anambra State. Sample size for the study comprised 207 public secondary school principals drawn from the 6 education zones in Anambra State using the stratified random sampling technique. A researchers’ structured questionnaire titled: “Principals’ Alternative Sources of Funding for Quality Management of Secondary Schools Questionnaire (PASFQMSSQ)” which contained 46 items, was used for data collection. The research instrument was validated by three experts and their reliability established through a pilot-test. Data gathered from the pilot-test conducted were analyzed using Cronbach Alpha method. The results yielded internal consistency coefficients r -value of 0.84, showing that the questionnaire was reliable. Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation scores for answering the research questions. Findings of the study revealed among others that principals internally-generated and externally generated alternative sources of funding which were also not sufficient for quality management of secondary schools in Anambra State. They concluded that the principals generated more alternative funding from the internal sources than the external sources for quality management of secondary schools in Anambra State. The study recommended among others that, principals’ with support and encouragement from the Post Primary Schools’ Service Commission (PPSSC) should explore and utilize other internallygenerated sources of funding such as through consultancy services, organizing extra mural lessons, holiday lessons and adult education classes, establishing business centres, endowment investment income, research consultancies, among others, for quality management of 
secondary schools in Anambra Stat