Perception of Principals on Emerging Technologies in Administration of Secondary Schools in Enugu

Abstract

This study appraised the influence of emerging technologies on principals’ administration of secondary schools, focusing on Science, Technical and Vocational Secondary Schools (STVSS) in Enugu State. Two research questions and two research hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The entire population of 40 STVSS principals, comprising of 29 males and 11 females was used for the study. Census sampling was used because the population is manageable. A self-developed structured questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts, one expert in Measurement and Evaluation; and two experts in Educational Management, all from the Faculty of Education, Enugu State University of Science and Technology. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach Alpha. The instrument yielded reliability indices of .77 and .75 for clusters "A" and "B" respectively. The overall reliability index was .76, which proves the reliability and suitability of the instrument for the study. Copies of questionnaire were administered and retrieved by the researcher with the help of two research assistants. The analysis of data was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Mean with standard deviation was used to answer the research questions. The null hypotheses were tested using z–test statistics at .05 level of significance. Mean scores of 2.50 and above were considered positive while those below 2.50 were considered negative. From the result of the findings of the study, it was concluded that the emerging technologies adopted by principals in the administration of STVSS in Enugu State are computers, smartphones and the internet. Comparison of the male and female principals showed that there was no significant difference between the mean ratings of male and female principals on how principals use emerging technologies in personnel administration of STVSS in Enugu State. Record keeping and storage of relevant information are the areas that emerging technologies influence data management of of principals in the administration of STVSS in Enugu State; There is no significant difference between the mean ratings of male and female principals on how they use emerging technologies in data management in administration of STVSS in Enugu State. It was therefore, recommended among others that there is need for government to provide the enabling environment and supportive infrastructure that aid the smooth use of emerging technologies for school administration.