ABSTRACT

This study investigated the influence of principals’ leadership styles on teachers’ productivity in public secondary schools in Imo State. A descriptive research design was employed for the study. Five research questions were raised and five null hypotheses were formulated that guided the study which were tested at 0.05 level of significance. A total of (693) respondents were selected for the study. These consists of 29 principals and 664 teachers. A 25 item structured questionnaire was designed using the likert point scale model and validated by three experts in the Department of Science Education and Department of Educational Management. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach Alpha method which yielded a coefficient of 0.90. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation and the hypotheses were analyzed using t-test. Result of the findings indicated that the mean responses of principals and teachers with regard to the democratic leadership style of principals influences teachers’ productivity in public secondary schools in Imo State was to great extent. Mean responses from principals and teachers with regard to the extent autocratic leadership style of the principal influence the productivity of teacher’ in public secondary schools was to a great extent. However, extent to laissez-faire leadership style of principals influence teachers’ productivity in Imo State public secondary schools was to a low extent. The extent of principals and teachers with regard to the transactional leadership style of principals influence on teachers’ productivity in public secondary schools was to a great extent. Mean responses principals and teachers with regard to principals’ leadership styles influence teachers’ productivity in public secondary schools was to a great extent. The educational implications of the study shows that it will encourage educational administrators, principals and planners in applying and using adequate leadership styles in order to improve teacher’s productivity and performance in education sector in Imo state. The study, hence recommended that the principals should adopt democratic leadership, transactional leadership style of principals’ leadership styles in secondary schools, as these leadership styles will enhance teacher’s productivity and goal achievement in the schools. The government should recruit adequate number and calibre of staff for each school to ensure optimum teacher’s productivity.