INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP EFFECTIVENESS AND ACADEMIC CORRUPTION IN OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING EDUCATION IN THE FCT

Abstract

This paper seeks to investigate the influence of instructional leadership effectiveness on academic corruption in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) programmes in the FCT.  The study adopted a descriptive design with a population comprising of all the ODL study centres around the FCT.  These study centres consist of the University of Abuja CDL, 2 National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) study centres, FCT COE Continuing Education, and National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) study centres.  A total of 50 respondents were chosen using Simple random sampling procedure to participate in the study from all the centres.  Three research questions were raised to be answered in this research which included what are the major forms of academic corruption inherent in Open and Distance Learning in FCT, Abuja? Among others. A self-developed questionnaire titled Instructional Leadership Effectiveness ans Academic Corruption Questionnaire (ILEACQ) developed in 4- point Likert scale of SA,A, D, SD was used to collect data for the study. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data collected for the study while Pearson Product moment was used to established correlation.  The study found that there are traces of corruption and bridge of academic best practices such as extortion, lecture absenteeism, exchange of grades for gratifications, impersonation by some students among others.  Consequent upon this, the paper recommends among others that management of ODL centres should adopt adequate strategies aimed at instilling the culture of discipline and academic freedom among their staff and students as a matter of priority, payment of decent remuneration for their staff so a s to discourage them from seeking for gratifications as well as intensifying awareness campaigns among others.