EDUCATION LAW AND PRINCIPALS’ FINANCIAL MANAGEMEN PRACTICES FOR ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

Education law is a legal tool that propels productivity of the enterprise in the school operation. It is a
broad term that encapsulates systems of jurispondence which focuses on education programmes,
events and activities which financial management practices is one. Finance is the nucleus of any
organization which dictates the success or failure of such organization. This study therefore delves
into education law and the principals’ financial management practices for achieving sustainable
development goals in public secondary school in Anambra State, Nigeria. The study anchored on two
research questions. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The population of the study
comprised the entire 264 principals and 264 finance officers of the 264 public secondary schools in
Anambra State numbering 528. The sampling technique was total enumeration technique since it has a
manageable size hence purposive. The instrument for data collection was designed by the researchers
and named was “Education Law, Principals Financial Management Practices Educational Instrument”
(ELPFMPEI). The validity of the instrument was certified through experts review while test retest
method was used to test the reliability of the instrument. The result was subjected to Pearson Moment
Correlation Coefficient method which gave rise to an index of 0.81 and was adjudged reliable for the
study. Mean and standard deviation was utilized to answer the research questions. The findings
revealed that principals to a low extent carry out the financial management practices for sustainable
development goals in Anambra State, Nigeria and are grossly challenged by delay in the release of
allotted fund among others. It is therefore recommended that the relevant authorities should expedite
action and ensure that public secondary school principals are trained on the financial management
practices on appointment into the office and a follow-up retraining while in the office to avoid
glitches that could thwart achieving sustainable development goals.