Teachers’ and Administrative Staff Perceptions of Educational Leadership Styles in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The education system in Nigeria is being faced with a high staff turnover rate as well as a serious phenomenon known as brain drain within the teaching profession. This challenge has been linked with inadequate attitudes, behaviors, and relationships between leaders and staff members such as misuse of power, authoritarian behavior, and a lack of sympathy among those in control of educational institutions. The purpose of this study is to highlight leadership strategies in the educational system from the perspectives of secondary school teachers and post-secondary school staff in selected secondary and tertiary education settings in Lagos State.
Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional study design. The study was carried in Lagos State, Nigeria among secondary school teachers as well as all department staff from the three colleges of education in Lagos State. Respondents were selected using multistage sampling technique. Data was collected using a pre-tested self-administered Secondary School Teachers and Post-Secondary School Staff Questionnaire (SSTPSSQ). The questionnaire was self-administered after it has been pre-tested. Data obtained was analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics was done for all variables.
Results: The teachers and staff members have negative perceptions regarding leadership styles in secondary and post-secondary institutions. Educational leaders have good behavior towards employee job security. Leaderships in secondary schools and post-secondary institutions in Lagos State lack components like students and staff welfare, culture of ongoing professional growth, adequate stakeholders’ engagement, and effective employee appraisals.
Conclusion: The concluded that the teachers and staff members have negative perceptions regarding leadership styles in secondary and post-secondary institutions.