Comparative Analysis of Principals’ Cost Management Practices for Administrative Effectiveness of Public and Private Secondary Schools in Awka Education Zone

Abstract

The study compared cost management practices adopted by principals of public and private secondary schools for administrative effectiveness in Awka Education Zone. One research question and one null hypothesis guided the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised 171 respondents made up of 64 principals of public secondary schools and 107 principals of private secondary schools in Awka Education Zone. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 85 respondents; 32 public and 53 private secondary school principals in Awka Education Zone. A researcher- developed instrument titled "Principals’ Cost Management Practices Questionnaire (PCMPQ)" was used for data collection. The instrument was subjected to face validation by three experts, one in the Department of Educational Foundation and two in the Department of Educational Management and Policy both in the Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Cronbach Alpha was used to determine the reliability of the instrument. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research question and t-test was used to test the hypothesis at .05 alpha level. The findings of the study revealed among others that similar budgetary control practices are adopted by principals of public and private secondary schools for administrative effectiveness in Awka Education Zone. Further results showed that there was no significant difference in the mean ratings of public and private secondary school principals on budgetary control practices they adopt for administrative effectiveness in Awka Education Zone.  Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendation was made: Principals should establish internal audit unit to assist in periodic independent, unbiased, accurate and objective appraisals of financial transactions and activities within their respective schools.