INFLUENCE OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP ON PRINCIPALS’ EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN AWKA EDUCATION ZONE, ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

Economic instability in Nigeria poses significant challenges to various sectors, including education. In Anambra State, economic hardship, primarily driven by inflation and rising living costs, affects the management and operations of secondary schools. This study examines the impact of economic challenges on school facilities and the recruitment of adequate teachers in the Awka Education Zone. The research adopts a descriptive design, surveying all 64 secondary school principals in the zone using a structured questionnaire to gather data. Results reveal that economic hardship has significantly impeded the provision of essential educational resources, maintenance of infrastructure, and recruitment of qualified teachers. The study identifies inflation, depreciation of the Nigerian currency, high production costs, and insufficient government funding as primary contributors to the economic difficulties faced by schools. These factors result in delayed teacher salaries, employment of adequate teachers, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to teaching aids and functional libraries. Principals also struggle to manage operational costs, maintain conducive learning environments, and facilitate extracurricular activities. The study identifies effect of economic hardship on secondary school students and it affect their academic performance by higher dropout rates, reduced access to quality education, and insufficient learning materials. Data analysis highlights the extent of these challenges. Principals agree that economic hardship hinders the purchase of modern teaching aids (mean = 3.65), maintenance of school infrastructure (mean = 3.58), and provision of laboratory and library facilities (mean = 3.74 and 3.67, respectively). Additionally, inadequate teacher recruitment is linked to low salaries (mean = 3.81) and delayed payments (mean = 3.77). Schools are further affected by an inability to provide regular teacher training and development programs. The findings align with previous studies that emphasize the detrimental effects of financial problems on educational quality in Nigeria. Scholars like Okenwa and Nwankwo (2023) have linked underfunding to deteriorating infrastructure, while Adeyemi et al. (2021) highlight the impact of economic hardship on teacher quality and student outcomes. Without strategic interventions, the study warns of long-term consequences for educational standards and student achievement in the region. The study concludes that addressing these challenges requires collaborative efforts from the government, private sector, and community stakeholders. Recommendations include increased funding for education, subsidized resources for schools, improved teacher salaries, and consistent professional development programs. Such measures are critical to enhancing the management capacity of principals, improving learning environments, and ensuring the sustainability of secondary education in Anambra State. By shedding light on the effects of economic hardship, this study underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to reduce the impact of Nigeria's economic instability on education.