Quality Control and Teacher Effectiveness in State Public Senior Secondary Schools, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the relationship between quality control and teacher effectiveness in Nigerian Public Senior Secondary Schools using Kwara State as a case study. Forty Public Senior Secondary Schools out of 305 representing 36% were randomly selected while 440 teachers out of 1,207 representing 37% were proportionally selected using multi-stage sampling technique. The instruments titled “Quality Control Questionnaire” (QCQ) and “Students Academic Performance Profoma” (SAPP) were adopted to elicit data required. Three research questions and operational hypotheses each were generated and analyzed using percentage and regression statistic at 0.05 significant level. Findings of this study revealed that there was a significant positive relationship between quality control and teacher effectiveness in Nigerian Public Senior Secondary Schools. It was recommended, among others, that supervisions of schools, stimulated professional growth and development of teacher should be intensified for effective quality control of schools. The quality of education in any nation depends on teachers’ quality. Background to the Study Education is the greatest legacy and a powerful instrument for cultural development of any society. It is the greatest investment that a nation can make to bring about civilization, modernization, development and socio-economic progress, as well as preparatory ground for human development (Federal Government of Nigeria, 2004). In Nigeria, public discussions frequently focus on educational standards more especially that students’ performance do not match government and parental investment. These are evident in the poor performance of students in Common Entrance Examinations, Examination Council Senior School Certificate Examination results, and quality of university graduates (Akinsola, 2010). Yet, the blame is often shifted on teachers at all levels of education on the premise that no education system can rise above the quality of teachers in the system (FGN, 2004). Okebukola (2004) as cited in Omoregie (2008) stated that quality control in schools is a process of continuous improvement in the quality of teaching and learning activities. This can be achieved by employing internal and external mechanism. Okebukola (2007) described quality control as the measures taken to remove faults at the end of the production process. Quality control concerns checking various components in the manufacture and marketing process, to ensure that the product or services being provided are satisfactory and safe for all customers. This is the process whereby outcomes are assessed to determine whether they are of the prescribed standard or not. Quality control practices in Nigerian education is based essentially on school inspection, monitoring, and control. The issue of poor academic performance of students in Nigeria has been of much concern to all. The problem has led to the fallen standard of education in Kwara state and Nigeria at large. The quality of education depends on the teachers as reflected in the performance of the students. Considering governments’ huge investment in public education, its output in terms of quality of students has been observed to be unequal with government expenditure (Omoregie, 2008). Teachers’ effectiveness has become a major issue in education sector which informed the researcher to investigate the relationship that exists between quality control strategies and teacher effectiveness in public senior secondary schools in Kwara State. Statement of the Problem There have been complaints and comments from stakeholders that the standard of education is falling due to poor quality control in education in terms of recruitment of personnel, selection of students for admission, conduct of examination in schools, and a host of other issues. Similarly, it has been observed that effectiveness of teachers in Kwara State secondary schools is not encouraging and this has equally been traced to poor quality control in education. Adeyemi’s (2009) findings showed poor performances of students in public examinations. Abolade in Omoregie (2008) listed the problems manifested at the secondary school level as examination malpractices, cultism, manifestation of juvenile delinquency, drug abuse, and academic incompetence among others. Also, it has been observed that very few graduates of secondary schools can communicate effectively or exhibit evidence of good and solid educational background, while students have poor mastery of English language, lack requisite technical skills, oral and written communications. Ogundiran (2014) carried out research on quality control and administrative effectiveness in secondary schools in Oyo State. The study showed that there was a positive and significant relationship between quality control and administrative effectiveness in secondary schools in Oyo state. Adeyemi (2009) also carried out a research on quality control and teachers’ effectiveness in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State. The study showed that there was a positive and significant relationship between quality control and teachers’ effectiveness in Ilorin West Local Government of Kwara State. There was other research related to this topic, but none has ever focused on teachers’ effectiveness in public senior secondary schools in Kwara State. Therefore, the study bridged the gap in the existing knowledge as it focused on Kwara State public senior secondary schools. Purpose of the Study The purpose of the study was to find out the: 1. relationship between teachers’ qualification and teacher effectiveness in Kwara State public Senior Secondary Schools; 2. relationship between teachers’ supervision and teachers’ effectiveness in Kwara State public Senior Secondary Schools, and 3. relationship between teachers’ in-service training and teachers’ effectiveness in Kwara State public Senior Secondary Schools. Significance of the Study The findings of the study hope to help the Teaching Service Commission and other governmental agencies to see the loopholes in the management of secondary education in Kwara State with a view to improving quality delivery of educational services. Also, it would avail the agencies the opportunity to carry out effective evaluation process in schools. Besides, the government stands to benefit from the study in the sense that though Teaching Service Commission (TSC) would be able to acquire vital information critical for improving terms and working conditions of teachers which would help to increase their level of job performance. The findings will also help the Monitoring Unit and School Support Officers (SSO) in providing rewards that give teachers impetus to work harder to improve students’ performance. The research study would be of significance to teachers in Senior Public Secondary Schools in Kwara State, who will gain information on how to improve their performance in various engagements. Moreover, the study will also be significant to the management of public schools who will gain insight into measures that are geared towards enhancing performance of teachers and how to formulate motivational policies that enhance employee performance. The study hopes to benefit school principals in performing their supervisory roles in the delegation of authority, utilizing teachers experience towards enhancing teacher effectiveness and help to reveal the need to lay more emphasis on supervision.