ADMINISTRATORS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL EFFECTIVENESS IN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined administrators’ financial management practices and public secondary school effectiveness in Cross River State. Specifically, it investigated the relationship between financial planning practices, financial accountability practices, and the effectiveness of public secondary schools. The study adopted a correlational research design. The population consisted of all 303 public secondary school principals in the state, and a census technique was used to include the entire population. Data were collected using an 18-item structured questionnaire titled “Administrators’ Financial Management Practices and Secondary School Effectiveness Questionnaire (AFMPSSEQ),” which was designed on a four-point Likert scale. The instrument was validated by experts in measurement and evaluation, while reliability was established through a test-retest method, yielding coefficients of 0.75 and 0.79 using Cronbach Alpha, indicating acceptable internal consistency. Data were analyzed using scatter plot and Pearson Product Moment Correlation at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that both financial planning and financial accountability practices have significant positive relationships with secondary school effectiveness. The study concluded that effective financial management practices by school administrators significantly enhance school effectiveness in terms of improved teaching and learning, administrative efficiency, and goal attainment. It was recommended that school administrators should adopt structured financial planning processes and strengthen accountability mechanisms to ensure efficient resource utilization and improved educational outcomes in public secondary schools.