a su rvey of community leadership role on secondary ... uche project.pdf · 4 certification ajeh...
TRANSCRIPT
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS
A su
Digitally Signed by: Content manager’s Name
DN : CN = Weabmaster’s name
O= University of Nigeria, Nsukka
OU = Innovation Centre
Nwamarah Uche
FACULTY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS
urvey of Community Leadership role on Secondary
Schools Development Projects in
Benue State.
AJEH, UCHE CLETUS
PG/MED/10/57213
1
Name
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS
on Secondary
n
2
A SURVEY OF COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ROLES ON
SECODNARY SCHOOLS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
IN BENUE STATE
BY
AJEH, UCHE CLETUS
PG/MED/10/57213
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS
UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA
JANUARY, 2014
3
TITLE PAGE
A SURVEY OF COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ROLES ON
SECODNARY SCHOOLS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
IN BENUE STATE
BY
AJEH, UCHE CLETUS
PG/MED/10/57213
PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL
FOUNDATIONS, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA IN PARTIAL
FULFILLMENT OF THE AWARD OF MASTERS IN EDUCATIONAL
ADMINISTRATION AND PLANNING
SUPERVISOR: DR. SAM. UGWOKE
JANUARY, 2014
4
CERTIFICATION
Ajeh Uche Cletus, a postgraduate student of the Department of
Educational Foundations with Registration number PG/Med/10/57213 has
satisfactorily completed the requirements for the award of the degree of M.Ed
in Educational Administration and Planning. The work embodied in the projects
is the original one and has not been submitted in part or in full for any other
degree of this University or any other University.
………………………………… ……………………………..
Ajeh Uche Cletus Dr. Sam. Ugwoke
Student Supervisor
5
APPROVAL PAGE
This thesis has been approved by the Department of Educational
Foundations, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
By
……………………………. ……………………………..
Dr. Sam. Ugwoke Rev. Dr. L.K Ejionueme
Supervisor Internal Examiner
……………………………. ……………………………..
Prof. G.C. Unachukwu Dr. D.U. Ngwoke
External Examiner Head of Department
…………………………….
Prof. I.C.S. Ifelunni
Dean, Faculty of Education.
6
DEDICATION
This project is dedicated to God Almighty and my late father Lazarus Ajeh Ipu.
7
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
In every exercise of this nature it reflects to the political “aphorism” that
man is a political animal and therefore cannot live in isolation rather depends on
others to survive.
Firstly, I thank the Almighty God whose inspiration and gift of wisdom
enabled me to embark on this task challenging exercise which if left for me
alone, could not be accomplished. I am very grateful to my project supervisor in
the person of Dr. Sam. Ugwoke who through his contributions, suggestions and
advice helped me to choose and organize my work to a reasonable end. I
specifically thank Associate Professor V.C. Onu who was the chairperson on
my project proposal defense, Rev. Dr. Ejionueme Lambert, the content reader,
Dr. Mrs. Oyoku, the design reader whose criticism, corrections and
contributions created positive channel in the arrangement of this work. I also
thank my seasoned Professors Ogbonnaya Nelson and Nworgu B.G. My thanks
also goes to Mrs. Diara, Dr. Enyi, Rev. Dr. Diara and others whose professional
contributions assisted in molding me. My relationship with these experts is
“live” and because live is a teacher they nurtured me at random.
Further, I cannot forget my co-students whose interaction with me is both
positive and negative but in all, they contributed much in what constitutes one’s
experience, I also thank my beloved wife Mercy Agidi Ajeh and my Children
Joy Poline and Mathew Ajeh Uche and others for their patience and the love
they offered in pursuit of this amiable goal. I extend my sincere gratitude to my
dearest sister, Margrate Ipenyi and Regina Aba whose contributions in cash and
kind cannot be measured. I also thank my brother Mr. Austine who sponsored
me and prayers from Rev. Ogwuche Boniface, Ojenya Clement among others. I
also thank Misses Peace and Mercy, the computer operators that assisted me in
course of producing this work. I thank everybody including you the reader.
8
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page - - - - - - - - - i
Certification page - - - - - - - - - ii
Approval page - - - - - - - - - - iii
Dedication - - - - - - - - - - iv
Acknowledgement - - - - - - - - v
Table of contents - - - - - - - - - vi
List of tables - - - - - - - - - viii
List of Appendix - - - - - - - - - ix
Abstract - - - - - - - - - - x
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION - - - - - 1
Background to the Study - - - - - 1
Statement of the Problem - - - - - - - 13
Purpose of the Study - - - - - - - - 15
Significance of the Study - - - - - - - - 16
Scope of the Study - - - - - - - - - 19
Research Questions - - - - - - - 20
Hypothesis - - - - - - - - 21
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE - - - 22
Conceptual Framework - - - - - - - - 22
Concept of community - - - - - - - - 23
Concept of leadership - - - - - - - - 24
Concept of leadership style - - - - - - - 33
Concept of secondary school - - - - - - - 34
Concept of community developmental projects - - - - 37
Theoretical Framework - - - - - - - - 43
Human relation theory - - - - - - - 43
Behavioural science theory - - - - - - - 44
The Scientific Management Theory - - - - - - 46
Review of Empirical Studies - - - - - - 47
Studies related to development projects - - - - - 47
Studies related to secondary schools - - - - - 50
Studies related with community leadership roles - - - - 52
Summary of literature Review - - - - - - 53
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHOD - - - - 55
Design of the Study - - - - - - - - 55
9
Area of Study - - - - - - - - - 55
Population of the Study - - - - - - - - 56
Sample and Sampling Technique - - - - - - 57
Instrument for Data Collection - - - - - - - 57
Validation of the Instrument - - - - - - - 58
Reliability of the Instrument - - - - - - - 58
Method of Data Collection - - - - - - - 59
Method of Data Analysis - - - - - - - 59
CHAPTER FOUR:
Presentation of Data and Analysis - - - - - - 60
Summary of Findings - - - - - - - - 69
CHAPTER FIVE
Discussion of Findings - - - - - - - - 71
Conclusion - - - - - - - - - 76
Education implication - - - - - - - - - 76
Limitations of the study- - - - - - - - - 77
Suggestions for further study - - - - - - - 77
Recommendations - - - - - - - - - 78
Summary of the study - - - - - - - - 78
REFERENCES - - - - - - - - - 81
APPENDICES - - - - - - - - - 85
Appendix A - - - - - - - - - 90
Appendix B - - - - - - - - - - 93
Appendix C - - - - - - - - - - 98
Appendix D - - - -- - - - - - 98
10
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Mean Ratings of Community Leaders and Schools Principals
on the Roles of Community Leaders towards Attainment of Secondary
School Development Projects in Benue State - - - - - 60
Table 2: Mean Ratings of Community Leaders and Principals on the Extent the Educational
Level of the Community Leaders Affect the Development Projects Embarked upon by
Secondary Schools in Benue State. - - - - - - - 62
Table 3: Mean Ratings of Community Leaders and School Principals on the Style of Community Leadership most Effective for Proper Execution of Secondary School
Development Projects in Benue State. - - - - - - - 64
Table 4: Mean Ratings of Community Leaders and School Principals on The Major
Problems Encountered by The Community Leaders in Executing Secondary School
Developed Projects in Benue State. - - - - - - - 66 - -
Table 5: t-test Analysis of Community Leaders’ and School Principals’
responses on Leadership style that is most effective for the Execution
of Secondary School Developed Projects in Benue State. - - - 67
Table 6: t-test Analysis of Community Leaders’ And School Principals’
Responses on Community Leaders and Principals With Regard to
the Roles of Community Leaders Towards Successful Accomplishment
of Secondary School Development Projects in Benue State. - - - 68
11
LIST OF APPENDIX
Appendix A: Questionnaire on community leaders and secondary
school development project - - -- - - - - 90
Appendix B: Reliability of instrument - -- - - 93
Appendix C: Population of teachers and principal in Otukpo Education
Zone in Benue State - - - - - - - - 98
Appendix D: Grand total of teachers and principals - - - 98
12
ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to investigate the survey of community leadership
roles on secondary schools development projects in Benue State. The research
adopted descriptive survey research design. Four research questions and two
null hypothesis guided the study. The population of the study is 1,200 which
comprises of 670community leaders and five hundred and thirty (530)
secondary school principals. The sample size of the study is 800 respondents.
Simple random sampling techniques were used to select 300 principals and 500
community leaders. A 30 item questionnaire was administered on the 800
respondents. The instrument was validated by three experts, two in Educational
Administration and planning and one in measurement and evaluation. The
experts examined the instrument and modified it to suit the purpose. The
validated was trial tested using 20 respondents which are outside the areas of the
study. Cronbach Alpha technique was used for its analysis in the determination
of the internal consistency of the instrument. This gave reliability to co-
efficient values of 0.87, 0.79, 0.86, and 0.78 for cluster A-D respectively. These
gave an overall reliability co-efficient score of 0.89. The major findings
indicated that the respondents agree that roles of community leaders towards
attainment of secondary school project include motivating the members towards
project participation, seeking the opinion of community members before
commencement of project, mobilizing the members of the community towards
the project implementation, being active and leading by example, good and
prudent on financial management. The findings also indicate that the
educational background of community leaders affects the development projects
of secondary schools. Furthermore the result shows that community leadership
style most effective for proper execution of secondary school development
projects requires a leader who seeks opinion of majority of community members
before embarking upon a given project, among others. Also the result indicated
that the major problems encountered by community leaders in executing
secondary school development project includes; lack of coordination and lack of
funds, among others. Based on the findings, the researcher recommended that
community leaders should be committed in performing their roles in school
developmental project; they should utilize their knowledge of their attained
educational background to influence professionally the secondary school
development project, among others.
13
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Leadership has been described as the process of social influence in which
one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a
common task. Leadership can be said to be an ability/Authority that pulls people
toward becoming comfortable with the language of personal responsibility and
commitment. Leadership is not just for people at the top. Everyone can learn to
lead by discovering the power that lies within one to make a difference and
being prepared when the call to lead comes. (Peteroy, 2001).
Leadership is applied in all facets of life. It is a competency that one can
learn to expand one’s perspective, set the complex of a goal, and understand the
dynamics of human behaviour and take the initiative to get to where one wants
to be. Hence leadership is defined as one’s ability to get others to willingly
follow.
Anyanwu (2007) defined an affective leader as an individual with the
capacity to consistently succeed in a given condition and be viewed as meeting
the expectations of an organization or society. Leaders are recognized by their
capacity in carrying others, clear communication and commitment to persist.
For instance, an individual who is appointed to a managerial position has the
right to command and enforce obedience by virtue of the authority of his
position. However, he or she must possess adequate personal attributes to match
1
14
this authority because authority is only potentially available to the individual. In
the absence of sufficient personal competence, a manager may be confronted by
an emergent leader who can challenge his/her role in the organization and
reduce it to that of a figurehead. However, only authority of position has the
backing of formal sanctions. It follows that whoever wields personal influence
and power can legitimize this only by gaining a formal position in the diarchy
with commensurate authority (Aderounmu; 1995).
Leadership is a widely applied term that usually refers to the personality
characteristics and the behavior of people with authority and influence and
responsibility for leading groups. The term is also use to refer to the group of
people officially responsible for running an organization.
Leadership function embraces those activities related to supervision,
leading and motivating personnel so that they will perform their task in desired
ways. The function entails human communication, man- to-man relationships
and use of incentives or penalties to motivate people in desired directions. As
with other managerial and enterprise functions, the way in which this functions
is performed makes a considerable difference in the efficiency of the firm.
However, what motivates men to better performance in some cultures may not
work may not work very well in other cultures. While leadership may prove
quite difficult to define precisely, most perceptive observes can readily detect
situation characterize by weak, vaccinating and ineffective leadership as
15
compared to one in which the leader as compared to one in which the leader is
competent , respected and effective. Griffiths F.M (2007)
Leadership performance is executives, because of their status, duties and
authority, are said to be in position of leadership. If leadership is considered as
something that influences person executive performances, would be Leadership
performance. More specially, it would be acts which influence the acts of
others. On the other hand, leadership style is an imprecise term that refers to the
blending of a person’s knowledge of leadership theory and skills with his or her
own personality and values under different organizational circumstances to
yield a “style” of leadership behavior (Mgbodile, 2003).
In view of the above definitions one can deduce that leadership is found
among those who demonstrate persistence, tenacity determination, and
synergistic communication so that such skills will bring out some qualities in
their groups. Leaders use their own inner mentors to acquire their team and
organization and lead a team to achieve success. Leadership therefore is a
matter of intelligence, trustworthiness, humaneness, carriage and discipline.
Hence reliance on intelligence alone results in rebelliousness.
Leadership style refers to a leader’s behaviour. It is based on the
philosophy, personality and experience of the leader. Rhetoric specialists have
also developed models for understanding leadership (Mgbodile, 2003). There
are different types of leadership style which include Autocratic or
16
Authoritarians style, participative or democratic style; and Laissez-faire or free
rein style.
The autocratic leadership style is used to describe a leader who is high –
handed in his administration. Autocratic leader signifies a self centered leaders,
a leader whose administration is centered unto himself and all autocratic
emanates from time and ends with line.
Under the autocratic leadership style all decision-making powers are
centralized in the leader, as a dictator. Leaders do not entertain any suggestions
or initiatives from subordinates. The autocratic leader finds it difficult to get
genuine love, support and cooperation from subordinate who regard his
administration as a “one man show. He maintains a poor human relation with
his manager. He is harsh and abusive in his language. It is known that the
autocratic leadership produces many undesirable effects on workers and on
work situation. The democratic leadership style is also called the participatory
leadership signifying its recognition of the need for staff participation in the
affairs of the organization. Consulting Democratic leadership places premium
on worker or group participation in decision making. The democratic leadership
is guided by the philosophy that people are more committed to caring out the
decisions in which they played a part in formicating. Thus, the democratic
leader invites the participation of workers in decision making, in setting
performance standards and evaluating performance.
17
The laissez faire leadership style is sometimes called the loose raine
leadership which can best be described as the detached management style. This
is taken from French language, the expression “laissez-faire” which literally
means “allow things go their way” is use to described the leader who allows his
workers to about go their work the way they want.
The laissez-faire administration does not engage in strict supervision of
workers as they perform. Their duty. He applies little control over the activities
of the worker and allows a measure of freedom in work operation.
This style of leadership is considered unsatisfactory because it signifies
the absence of visible leadership which often leads to a number of undesirable
behavior among workers leading to poor work performance. He develops no
policy of his own. He allows complete freedom to the group and for them to do
as they wish, generally a Laissez-faire leaders responsibility.
The community leader is the key influential people that exert influence
and authority over the other members of the community. These power action
need to be elected by the generality of the people they serve and equally
recognized by the government of the area their community is under. They also
need to poses the relevant qualities are present in these leaders and they are
selected by the people that they experience the support and participation of them
in any development project.
Community leaders are not necessarily elected to their positions, and
usually do not have legal powers, but they are often used by the media and the
18
police as a way of determining the general efforts within a particular
community, or acting as a point of liaison between the community and
government authorities. Community leadership are active in participation of the
community project as well as solving the problems of the community members.
Community leadership is a designation, often by secondary sources
(particularly in the media) for a person who is perceived to represent a
community. A simple way to understand community leadership is to see it as
leadership in, for and by the community. Essentially community leaders have
the responsibility of identifying the felt needs of his community members and
serves as a link between his community and Government or none Governmental
agencies.
In the present time, there has been a continual emphasis on the agencies
need to improve developmental activities in various communities. Such
emphasis emanate from various sections of communities and the society. Not
until recently, the belief of most Nigerians was that it is the responsibility of the
Government to provide for the needs of their communities. The Government
was seen as the great provider with unlimited resources and consequently, there
has been an almost complete dependence on the Government to provide the
needs of the people in the localities. The situation has tended to stagnate social-
economic development in many Rural Communities.
On its own part, Government has realized the essence of rural
development through repeated calls, re-awakened the people’s interest in the
19
development of rural areas. However, it is pertinent to mention at this point that
to identify community problems, and the existence of felt needs as well as the
ability of the individuals and groups in the community to perceive the particular
problems (Dunham, 2007).
The situation is further compounded by lack of able leadership that is
capable of mobilizing the people to embark on meaningful community
development in the communities. Long before the establishment of the science
of development and planning, many rural communities in Nigeria have learnt to
pull their resources together in construction of project such as foot paths to their
farm which are some kilometers away from their settlements (villages). They
are as well did the clearing around their homes, shrines, and markets under the
directive and supervision of community leaders (NYSC and Anka
Directorate1980).
There is now an increasing awareness that people can develop their own
communities out of their efforts and resources. The changes began to occur as a
result of their increasing realization of the relationship between leadership role
and community development. Community awareness can be generated by the
community leaders in that, some people cannot easily be able to perceive a
common problem confronting them without being assisted (Nnena, 1990).
As a result, community development project relies heavily on local
leadership to elicit the enthusiasm of the people. This is to ensure that it is not
only the change agents, who are paid officials, but also the local leaders, who
20
act as the agent of the development in their communities. Local leaders are very
often volunteers and they are perhaps the very real agents of social change and
improvement in their communities. This is why the community development
agent must endeavour, at the initial stage, to identify the structure and pattern of
the leadership in his client community (Bello, 1990).
Moreover, community leadership fosters participation is affecting the
lives and welfare of the people in the community. It creates faith in a number of
factors that may generate community development. It creates faith in common
understanding, faith in the philosophy of success, faith in the ultimate
satisfaction of personal and community motives, faith in the integrity and
objective of the authority, and faith in the superiority of community purpose.
Community leaders are thus enabled to pursue the incessant interchanges of
energies and satisfactions for immediate growth of the community and ultimate
development of the nation. It is necessary therefore for individual and groups to
improve their leadership (Fisher and Romanorstky, 2012).
Leadership in Zone ‘C’ community of Benue State starts from the
villages which are the strongest political unit in communities. The community is
egalitarian, with the extended family comprising of many families as the lowest
political unit. The head of the extended family holds the “Ochirigogo” which is
the symbol of power, for he represents that extended family at the village
meetings.
21
The extended family is made up of families that trace their ancestor to
one person. The extended family also has kindred’s which is a localized
patrilineage made up of a group of related extended families. The eldest male in
this family head the kindred called “Okoshe” and he represents them in
political, religious and social matters. The village is composed of many
kindred’s whose members trace their ancestors to one person belonging to a
distinct group. The village is based upon common kinship, religious, dialect and
economic ties.
The Zone ‘C’ is the largest political unit area in Benue State and the LGA
that constitute the Zone ‘C’ have the feelings of same identity and it is the basic
political unit in the whole Idoma political system. The Zone ‘C’ has a central
deity which all members of the Zone ‘C’ recognize as the deity to which the
Zone ‘C’ owes its co-existence. The traditional functions in this society are
performed through various structures within the system.
In the typical local government setting, the women’s club, the age grade,
youth association, traditional and political and religious leadership are the
executive agent of the social system. The age grade system cuts across
residential and lineage ties and brings members of each village into a single
organization based mainly on age.
The secondary school institution as a social system consists of individuals
with different personality and needs or disposition (Oboegbulam 2000;
Peretomode, 1999). The individuals within the school include the principals,
22
teachers, students and other non-academic staff, interacting within the defined
boundaries for the purpose of achieving the predetermined objectives of the
school. Educational administrators (principals) are involved in administration
and management of secondary schools, Nwankwo in Peretomode (1996)
considers school administration as careful and systematic arrangement and use
of resource, (human and materials) situations and opportunities for the
achievement of specified goals and objectives of a given organizations.
Mgbodile, (2004) defined school management as guidance, leadership and
control efforts of groups of people towards some common objectives. It is a
social process of interaction and economic process involving a sequence of
coordinating events, which include: planning, organizing, coordinating and
controlling. Educational management is concerned with the planning and
formulation of educational policies or programmes with the view of achieving
educational goals. The supervisory aspect of administration is mainly for
maintaining punctuality and general discipline as well as facilitating changes
and pattern of work to modern techniques as commented by Oboegbulem
(2007).
It is obvious that leadership would play a tremendous role in managing
the life pattern of the community members. The leaders are capable of knowing
how best to channel the resources of the community or the resources of the local
government towards meaningful educational development project such as
library construction school building and bore hole establishment.
23
The community leaders and school principals’ position in a community
educational development project can be termed as crucial since they help to
disseminate information motivate people and also accelerate the programme
execution. In this regard, the rural leaders are key to success in community
development programme (Brien, 1999). However, most often community
leaders encounter some major problems in the face of executing school
development projects such as polite involvement, lack of coordination and
sound group conflict.
The existence of capable leaders enhances the status of village projects
and places them in a better position to qualify for government grants in aid. To
help bring a community to action, it requires the community leaders to create
awareness on the people in the direction of self-help project. In Zone ‘C’
community of Benue State leadership starts from village, which is the basic
political unit in a community. It possesses all the socio-political attributes of a
traditional Idoma society in Benue State.
Execution of community development projects depend on organization
and effective participation of the people in the community enhanced by the free
flow of communication in which it is made possible by the Local leaders such
as Council of Elders, Age grade, Town Unions, Cooperative societies and heads
of various organizations in the community.
However, the influence of educational background of community leaders
is being felt in most communities since it has formed and modified some
24
traditional, social and political structures. In this pattern of community
leadership educated leaders who are aware of current changes, the community
members should therefore try as mush as possible to elect those who are
educated to replace non-educated (illiterates) leaders in order to communicate
with other members of community effectively and relate well to enlight them of
the need for change., will help to bring cordial relationship between community
members and the community leaders (Peteroy, 1999).
It is obvious that educational level knowledge of community leader
plays a tremendous role in managing the life pattern of the community
members. Those leaders are capable of knowing how best to channel the
resources of the community toward meaningful development projects such a
road construction, erection of classroom structure, school library and school
structure (Boggs, 1996).
The existence of capable leaders enhances the status of community
projects and places them in a better position to qualify for governments, grants
in-aid. To help bring a community to action, it requires the community leaders
to create the awareness on the people, in the direction of self help projects. It
must be recited that in Zone “C” community of Benue State, leadership starts
from the village which is the basic political unity in the community. It posses all
the socio political attributes of a traditional Idoma society. They are, to a very
great extent, egalitarian as well as political in standards of conduct. The
25
community is agriculturally, religiously, economically, educationally and
politically alert.
Therefore those community leaders’ roles in community development
projects can be termed as crucial since they help to disseminate information,
motivate people and also accelerate the programme execution. In this regard the
rural leaders are rightly pointed to as a key to success in community
developmental program (Edekobi, 1998).
Statement of the Problem
Leadership is very crucial in educational development projects, and the
effectiveness of leadership therefore, goes a long way towards the realization of
community aims and objectives. Most projects being undertaken in
communities for their development require effective leadership for their
success. The existence of capable leaders enhances the status of development
projects and places them in a better position to qualify for government
assistance.
In the past, the people in Zone “C” of Benue State placed much
importance on development projects of their communities and have been noted
in the past for her self-help efforts. This was demonstrated greatly when they
were under Benue Plateau State when they built the Otukpo Town Hall which
has clinic, the Women Education Centre, Lodging Accommodation House and
some community secondary schools in many Zone ‘C’ communities
26
respectively. This problem of this study originate as result of lack of
development project by community leaders in Benue State.
It is most unfortunate that since the creation of Zone ‘C’; (social political
sector, 1976) in Benue State, the communities have not recorded any new
developmental project in its own for past decades and seems not to be
interested. Some uncompleted projects have even been abandoned such as
Otukpo Community Hall and library building. The big question therefore is
what has actually gone wrong? Why is it that Zone ‘C’ consisting of nine (9)
Local Government Areas with abundant human and material resources not able
to provide her people with viable secondary schools development projects such
as water bore hole, classroom accommodation, building of library, school
electrification or plants?
In the typical local government setting, the women’s club, the age grade,
youths association, traditional, political and religious leadership are the
executive agents of the social system. The age grade system cuts across
residential and lineage ties and brings members of each village into a single
organization based mainly on age. It is obvious that leadership would play a
tremendous role in managing the life pattern of the community members. The
leaders are capable of knowing how best to channel the resources of the
community or the resources of the local government toward meaningful
development projects.
27
Education developmental projects both as a practice, process and
movement have not been achieved, especially in Zone ‘C’ Community of Benue
State, in spite of various concerted efforts of the government to mobilize the
communities through such governmental agencies as the World Bank assisted
projects on self-help, Mass Mobilization for Self Reliance and Economic
Recovery (MANSER), Better Life Programme for Rural Women (BLPFRW),
Family Support Programme (FEAP). From the foregoing, it is clear that certain
problems exist, and it is of more concern to this researcher hence posed to ask:
what are the roles of community leaders in secondary school developmental
projects? In view of this, the researcher embarked on this study to investigate
through the opinion of community leaders and school principals on roles of
community leaders in the secondary school development project in Benue State.
The Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of the study is to investigate the roles of community
leadership in secondary school development projects in Benue State.
Specifically, this study seeks to:
1. Determine the roles of community leaders towards successful
accomplishment of the secondary school development projects in
Benue State.
2. Determine the extent to which the educational level of the community
leaders affect the development projects of secondary schools in Benue
State.
28
3. Find out how the style of community leadership that is most effective
for the execution of secondary school development projects in Benue
State.
4. Identify the problems encountered by the community leaders in
executing secondary school development projects in Benue State.
Significance of the Study
The emphasis on community development project has been a growing
phenomenon in recent time. Therefore the importance of secondary school
development cannot be over-emphasized.
The study will be beneficial to the principals, teachers, students,
community leaders as well as Ministry of Education, its agencies at all levels.
The findings will go a long way in helping principals of secondary
schools because they will acquire maximum knowledge from the finding of
Researcher after investigation into the various roles or contributions, if any,
made by the community leaders in Zone ‘C’ community in terms of secondary
school development projects and understanding of several aspects of the effect
of leadership roles on secondary school developmental projects. The study will
help the principals gain the background knowledge and problems militating
against secondary school developmental projects as a result of this work, when
properly studied.
Teachers in secondary school will benefit from this study in one way or
the other as they find the information very useful and important in teaching and
29
learning situation. The teachers in the secondary school will benefit from the
findings because it will help them to know the activities of community leaders
as regards secondary school developmental programmes that bring about new
changes at school level. The teachers will well benefit from the study because it
will make them know the roles of community leaders in secondary school
development projects. This awareness will help them have interest in their job.
The findings will go a long way in helping students to understand and
gain knowledge how secondary schools in the community are equipped with
greater knowledge for change of school environment. Through the effort of
community leaders. The findings will benefit the students as it will help them to
know and understand the different efforts of community leaders/members and
principals/teachers in secondary school development project. This awareness
will make them improve their knowledge and skills. It will equally make the
students aware of the good relationship between the principal/teacher and
community leader/members in development of secondary school project there
by make the students to develop spirit of good relationship.
The education agencies in-charge of secondary schools will benefit from
this study because it will provide them with useful and needed information on
the functions of community leaders and their active participation in secondary
school developmental projects. It will make such education agencies realize the
essence of community leader’s effort towards the development of secondary
30
school project. This awareness will enable them know how to channel the
education problem to appropriate quarters.
The ministry of education will benefit from this study because it will help
them to know the style of leadership preferred for full initiation, implementation
and participation in secondary schools development projects. It will as well
make them know the problems encountered by these community leaders in
executing developmental project and how to overcome them. This awareness
will inspire the ministry of education to pick interest on the effort of community
leaders and to meet community demands at the time of their need.
The findings of this research will be useful to community leaders because
it will make them know how mush contribution to the realization process of
what the community leaders in Zone ‘C’ of Benue State have done towards the
community development project. It will enable them to know the areas of their
weakness and strength in the job. This awareness will help the leaders to know
and understand the areas preferred for full initiation, implementation and
participation in secondary school developmental projects and as well as their
real function or roles in a given society.
The findings will be of benefit to community members because it is
hoped to draw out the needed information that would go a long way to stimulate
community members in embarking and taking active part in education
developmental projects. This awareness will help them to alleviate the suffering
of the principals, teachers and students in the community.
31
It will equally stimulate community member to know what are the roles
of these leaders towards successful accomplishment of education developmental
project in Zone ‘C’ community in Benue State.
Scope of the Study
The study has both content and geographical scope.
In the geographical scope, the study was limited to Zone “C” community
of Benue state, the Zone ‘C’community comprises of nine (9) local
governments areas in Benue state which include Obi, Oju, Otukpo, Ado
Okpokwu, Obadigbo, Apa, Ohimini and Agatu respectively.
In the content scope, the study was limited to the examination of the roles
of community leaders in secondary school development projects in Benue State.
This study will carry out investigation into the secondary school developmental
projects and look into problems encountered by community leaders in executing
secondary school development projects in Benue State. this study will carry out
investigation into educational background of the community leaders who are
involved in development projects embarked upon by secondary schools in
Benue State. It will as well cover the type or style of leadership preferred for
full initiation, implementation and participation in secondary school
development projects in Benue State.
Essentially the finding of the study helps to emphasize the indispensability of
the leadership roles in the secondary school development efforts. This further
stimulate community development workers, the government and Zone ‘C’
32
community in taking active part in community development projects. It will also
expose the critical issues involved in effective secondary school development,
and as such, it helps in exposing all possible awareness to promote co-operation
among community members to promote the socio-economic and cultural status
of the community.
Furthermore, this study serves as a reference book, as it may stimulate
other researchers to carry out further research on the contributions the
community leaders can make towards the upliftment of human well being in
their various communities.
Research Questions
The following research questions were formulated to guide the study:
1. What are the roles of community leaders towards attainment of
secondary school development project in Benue State?
2. To what extent does the educational level of the community leaders
affect the development projects embarked upon by secondary schools
in Benue State?
3. What style of community leadership that is most effective for proper
execution of secondary school development project in Benue State.
4. What are the major problems encountered by the community leaders
in executing secondary school development project in Benue State.
33
Hypothesis
The following null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study and
was tested at 0.05 levels of significance:
HO1: There was significant difference between the mean rating scores of
community leaders and principals with regard to leadership style that is
most effective for the execution of secondary school development
projects in Benue State.
HO2: There is no significant difference between the mean rating scores of
community leaders and principals with regard to the roles of community
leaders towards successful accomplishment of secondary school
development projects in Benue State.
34
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
This literature review was treated under the following sub-headings:
conceptual framework, theoretical framework, review of empirical studies and
summary of the reviewed literature.
Conceptual Framework:
Concept of community
Concept of leadership/leadership style
Concept of secondary school
Concept of development and development projects
Theoretical Framework
Scientific management theory
Human relations theory
Behavioural science theory
Review of Empirical Studies
1. Studies related to development project.
2. Studies related to secondary school
3. Studies related with community leadership roles.
Summary of Literature Review
22
35
The Concept of Community
The term community is used to refer to a group of people living within
the same geographical area, with a high degree of communalism and kinship
obligations. Community is characterized by a light degree of inter – personal
intimacy where relationship are strengthened by face to face relationship.
Community is a word with many meanings and uses. According to
Beresman (1998), community is one of the oldest forms of human organization
where social order is based upon consensus of will and supported by folkways,
mores and religion. He again stated that, community is a place where people
have high moral commitments, and dependency on reciprocity, norms, filial
ties, kind ship, obligations, neighborhood ties, and a high degree of
communalism.
From another perspective that seems to improve on above definitions,
Taylor (1997) defined community as consisting of persons in social interaction
within a geographical area having one or more common ties. Taking a definite
point, Mezirow (1992) sees community as that level of social interaction where
these tensions are more clearly exposed between micro-experience and macro-
explanation. Beresford (1998), views community from different perspectives in
respect of psychological angle. He stated that, community is a temporary
psycho- and sociological function giving rise to a social form within the
boundaries of which personal affective ties and situational purposive
instructions prevail. It is the convergence like affected individuals into social
36
formation in response to a perceived negative influence in prevailing broader
environment and in opposition to it from his own angle Fussell (1998) says that
the fundamental unit of development is the community which is made up of
households, comprised of individual men and women, young and old with many
roles and responsibilities which allows the community to function.
In view of all the above definition, one can deduce that, community is
seen as a social unit made up of a people who live in a geographical area, which
may be large or small, formed for different purposes. Community can therefore
develop through a close relationship between the people, the sharing of common
interests and obligation and feedings of oneness for the realization of their
common goals and aspirations. A pioneer settlement, a village, a city, a tribe or
even a nation can be seen as an example of community.
The Concept of Leadership
The concept of leadership has been looked at from various points of
views, by different researchers. Because of the abstract and fluid character of
the concept, it has been universally accepted and standard definition of
leadership to emerge. Throughout the human history, philosophers have made
attempt to define the concept of leadership and to give appropriate position in
the development of man and society. Edekobi (1998), defined leadership as one
who is endowed with unique qualities that capture the imagination stressed that
leadership consist of such skills as intellectual, physical, moral and artistic
skills. It may be as a result of this fact that they are appointed as a leader within
37
the group as he is the real centre of influence within the group. For instance
kings and leaders one those whose authority is mostly derived from their
position.
From more pragmatic perspective, Onyechi (2001) views a leader as that
member of a group who has the most influence over the behaviour of other
members and whose position is usually the first to emerge as the group becomes
structured. Saheny and Chanterge (1999) assumed that leadership in community
development is based on the relation between an individual and a group that
built around some common interest. He further contended that community
leadership is when a group follows an individual out of free will and not under
command or force. It has also been stressed that community leaders should be
reorganized and seized opportunities to surmount cultural, legal, administrative
obstacles. He should also obtain the necessary resources and sufficient support
for his plan and execution I order to achieve the goal and objection of an
organization. (Ugwunyi, 2001). Therefore, leadership involves the ability of an
individual or group of people to mobilize human resources in response to the
need and requirements that results from stencil, either from internal or external
environment.
Leadership may be entrusted by birth, selection, or by usurpation of
power. In this regard, Bass in Edekobi (1998) looks at leadership as an
individual’s effort to change the behaviour of others. .When other members
actually change, this creation of change in others is successful leadership. If the
38
other is reinforced for changing their behaviour, this evoked achievement in
effective leadership. Considering the above definitions, one can deduce that
leadership is the most basic concept in community development projects, and
the efficiency of the leader goes a long way in the realization of the
community’s aim and objectives. Leadership requires responsibility and
sacrifices. Therefore, the prospective leader must accept the responsibility
associated with leadership.
The worker or group leadership style places premium on people as the
prime determinant of production. In this approach attention is paid more to the
needs of the people in the organization and production is seen as a natural
antecedent of good relations. The leader emphasizes sound interpersonal
relations and sees the welfare of the workers as instrumental to production.
Leadership involves the ability of an individual or group of people to
mobilize human resources in response to the need and requirements that results
from stimuli, either from internal or external environment. A common link
which runs through those positions is that leadership remains the art of
coordination and motivating individuals and group of people to achieve a
desired goal (Ezeocha, 2006). In the absence of leadership, life would have been
poor, nasty, solitary, brutish and short.
The salience and conversance of power of a leader depend to a large
extent, on the goals of an organization, and strategies available for achieving
39
these goals. For leadership to be successful, Ezeocha (2006) considered the
following principles of leadership:
(i) leadership must be legitimate and authoritative, meaning that the leader
must be led, be given the mass and societal backup to direct and control.
(ii) leadership must not exceed the mandate entrusted to it by the people.
(iii) leadership must subject itself to public advancement, responsibility and
accountability to maintain a good relationship between the leader and the
led.
(iv) leadership in terms of recruitment must be by merit instead of inheritance
or usurpation.
A leader should possess superior intelligence, relevant training or
experience. He must be initiative and should be capable of having inter-personal
relations, direct attention and advance acceptable solution (Onyechi, 2001).The
leader is a person endowed with unique qualities that capture the imaginations
of the masses. (Bruse, 1998). Ezeocha (2006) in his own view, stressed that
leadership can be seen as authority injunction given to an individual or group of
individuals to exercise a definite measure of power within a specific
organizational content.
Saheny and Chanterge (1999) assumed that leadership in community
development project is based on the relationship between an individual and a
group built around some common interest and believing in a manner or
determined by him. They further contended that community leadership where a
40
group follows an individual of free will and not under command or coercion. It
has also been stressed that community leaders should recognize and seize
opportunities to surmount cultural, legal, administrative and other kinds of
obstacles, obtain the necessary resources and combine and make use of them in
the right way to obtain sufficient support for plan and promote the necessary
organization to carry them out. (Saheny and Chanterge, 1999).
In summary, leadership is the most basic concept in community
development project, and the efficiency of the leader goes a long way towards
the realization of the community’s aims and objectives.
Generally, leadership is classified according to their leadership styles and
their characteristics. Edekobi (1998) stated that in order to find the real leaders
of the community the style and characteristics of leadership are necessary to be
examined. The leaders are classified according to the following styles. The
autocratic leadership style, the democratic leadership style, the laissez fair
leadership style, the leadership according to compulsion and the charismatic
leadership (Mgbodile, 2003).
The word autocratic is used to describe a leader who is high-handed in his
administration “Auto” is a Latin word which means self. So the expression
autocratic leader signifies a self-centred leader, a leader whose administration is
centred on his self. He is the centre of all the activities that go on in the
establishment where he is a leader. A prime determinant of action, all the
authority emanates from him and ends with him.
41
The autocratic leader manifests his autocratic tendency clearly in
decision-making. He monopolizes the decision-making process and takes
decision all alone. He does not see the need to involve his staff in decision
making since he thinks he has all the bright ideas. He believes his ideas and
thoughts to be superior to those of his subordinates and considers involving
them in decision-making as a waste of time. He is therefore not interested in
group or corporate decision. He takes decisions all alone and passes these down
to subordinates as orders to be carried out without question (Mgbodile, 2003).
The consideration and initiating structure of leader has a great effect on
the subordinates. Leadership equally has great effect on the subordinates. Agabi
(1995) states that an autocratic leader by fear unites his group and by suspicion
divides his group into enemies. By this an autocratic leader has two images
about his group; he suspects them and once he fears that his group members are
coming too close, he by all means separates them since he cannot lead people
who are together. Nnenna (1990), sees an autocratic leadership as all-in all
decision making. An autocratic leader is characterized by the following:
� The dictation of all policies and procedure by the leader;
� Imposition of task and methods on the subordinates;
� Lack of effective communication between the leader and the group.
An autocratic leader gives more attention on the nomathetic dimensions
(Nnenna, 1990). He does not believe in using staff initiative or discretion.
Dennis (1997). further lists eight characteristics autocratic leader assumes
42
inconvenience to himself: an aggressor, a blocker, recognition seeker, a dodger,
a dominator, a help seeker, a special interest seeker, a blamer, the autocratic
leader as Hall in Ume (1999) puts it plays dominative roles, gets things done in
his own ways and prevents others from emerging as leader; he is just one in
making decision, his decision is final. He is leader dominated rather than group
dominated. He performs better during anarchy because in anarchy there is really
no group and group cohesion.
The democratic management style is also called the participatory
leadership signifying its recognition of the need for staff participation in the
affairs of the organization. Democratic leadership places premium on worker or
group participation in decision making. The right of the worker to participate in
taking decisions on issues that affect his work is recognized. The central idea in
democratic management is getting the worker directly involved in helping to
make decisions that affect his work operation (Knezevich, 1995).
The democratic management sees the need to take the worker into
confidence and to seek his ideas, views and suggestions on issues concerning
the organization’s welfare. He believes that no one man has a monopoly of
ideas, and that better decisions can be taken under joint deliberations making
use of suggestions and ideas of members of the organizations. He therefore
genuinely invites suggestions and ideas of subordinates in decision making, and
incorporates them in the final decision. Nnenna (1990) in his own opinion saw
democratic leadership as that which creates room for the consultation of the
43
group on almost all the things that affect them before decision are made. It
allows for self-expression, creativity and group healthy interactions. A
democratic leader listens to the group’s suggestion and he believes that the
whole group is greater than individual part. He thinks with this group. A
democratic leader is more interested in the smooth running of the community,
personnel, citizens, welfare and understanding and interest.
Unlike the autocratic leader, the democratic leader is a part of the group
and in the real sense a product of the group. He is just one of the number of
leaders who under different circumstances helps the group to do its jobs. Hall
lists fifteen characteristics of a democratic leader: Initiator, Orientor, Facilitator,
Encourager, Summarizer, Fact giver, Expeditor, Status role, Evaluation,
Harmonizer, Fact seeker, Compromiser, Spokesman, Recorder and Analyzer.
But one thing needs to be noted, a democratic leader is a matter of degree. A
leader should not be totally autocratic or totally democratic; the best leaders
probably are slightly more autocratic than democratic, but only in the sense that
they make the difficult decisions when the buck stops at their desk (Mgbodile,
2003).
The Laissez faire leadership implies that things should sort themselves
out. The leader has seldom clearer vision of organizational goals. According to
Nnenna (1990), laissez faire leadership style are such things that should sort
themselves out. The leader not only has seldom clearer vision of organizational
but also of community goals. He develops no policy of his own. He allows
44
complete freedom to the group and for them to do as they wish. Generally, a
laissez faire leader lacks responsibility. Hall in Ume (2002) states that a laissez
faire leader is as well called passive leader who is not really a leader. This is the
type of leader that is arrived when circumstances so dictate. Under this
leadership, people get into leadership not because they wanted to lead but
because leadership has become a right. A passive leadership often fail to
stimulate his group; neither can the people stimulate him. To have a laissez faire
leader is to fall asunder the group. It is a leader who is a good follow leader and
therefore must be avoided.
The Laissez faire style of leadership which is sometimes called the loose
rein leadership can best be described as the detached management style. Taken
from the French Language, the expression “Laissez-Faire” which literally
means “allows things go their way”, is used to describe the leader who allows
his workers to go about their work the way they wanted. The Laissez-Faire
administrator does not engage in strict supervision of workers as they perform
their duty. He applies little control over the activities of the workers and allows
a measure of freedom in work operation (Mgbodile, 2003).
The Laissez faire style of leadership is considered unsatisfactory because
it signifies the absence of visible leadership which often leads to a number of
undesirable behaviours among workers leading to poor work performance.
Some workers might pay less attention to their work while others might
completely abandon their work or perform below expectation.
45
Freedom of action: The group members do things as they are pleased. In this
case, there is no leadership. The following characterizes laissez faire leadership
style.
� Complete non-participation and indifference
� Leadership supplies information only if asked and assumes no other duty.
� Makes few comments of any kind and no effort to enforce any work rule
(Hall in Ume, 1999).
One of the motivational factors gives strength to leadership in the society is the
compensation that the leader receives for his efforts. Compensation takes many
forms (Hall in Ume, 2002). It could be status recognition, monetary or material
compensation. It could also be professional. Ume (2002) states that there are
distinguishing factors between a professional leader and others. Under the
leadership according to compensation, status changes immediately. The
compensation is the upliftment he has. Therefore, one is raised among others
just overnight.
Concept of leadership style
The charismatic style is a style of management behaviour observed
among people who naturally possess the charismatic traits. Charisma is a natural
endowment of certain leadership traits which the possess manifests of oratory
boldness, drive, the power to organize and mobilize people. By the natural
leadership qualities which the possesses, he is able to get the support of his
followers without much effort. People are willing to follow him to sink with or
46
swim behind him. They give him their trust, support and co-operation without
knowing or questioning why they should do so. Nnenna (1990) saw this
leadership as “a term used to describe the capacity, capabilities or qualities of a
person who recognizes, direct and control others for the purpose of attaining the
set goals for his group or society.
Thus, it is the process of influencing the activities and behaviour of an
individual or group in an effort to attain a goal for the group. It is also used to
describe a person’s status, position of authority or power. The above implies
that the success or failure of the group or society is in most cases attributable to
the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the leader. He tries to lead in the right
direction. Charismatic leadership refers to natural and supernatural qualities of
influencing others. A reflection on the above definition of leadership shows that
leadership could be a personality gift or an individual’s characteristics to easily
influence the activities or behaviour of others. The charismatic leader is
characterized by the following: command of language, use of proverb, live of
honesty, fairness, confidence, good memory (Nnenna, 1990).
Concept of Secondary School
According to Hormby (2003) secondary school is an institution where
teaching and learning take place which students acquire many skills: it is where
admission is created for those children who are above average level of their
academic performance at primary school level. Secondary schools in Nigeria are
of three categories. These are unity schools or federal Government Colleges,
47
secondary schools owned by the states and private secondary schools.
Admission into the unity school is usually in two stages: the National common
entrance examination involving all candidates who may have applied, and the
interview stage involving candidates deemed to have veached a certain standard
at the first age. Cut off marks are used in determining who qualifies for the
second stage. However, it does happen that there is no uniform cut off mark.
Admission into the state secondary school is by a state common entrance
examination. Some private secondary schools also conduct entrance
examination and used cut off marks to determine who qualifies to be posted to
their schools as well. (Ogbonnaya, 2003). Secondary schools is for those
children who are between the ages of 11 to at least 19, years old. but in some
areas like “US” where secondary school is divided into Junior school and high
school, the secondary school is for children at ages of 11 to 14 years and 14 to
19 yearsold respectively. Obanya (2002) state that, since a secondary school
offers a full range of subject across the academic and vocational spectrum, it is
commonly understood that the school will need to be of a large size and to take
children from a wide range of abilities. In principle, it was originally conceived
as neighbourhood schools, which all students in its catchments area were meant
to attend, irrespective of ability and without in most cases any significant
element of parental choice.
The school is a social system that possesses a distinct unit (creativity)
beyond its component parts: It is distinguished from its environment by a
48
clearly defined boundary; it is compounded by sub-unit elements and sub-
system that are at least interrelated within relatively stable pattern of social
behaviour. Consequently, it is relevant to indicate that the school has a formal
and an organized avenue for operating within set rules and regulations
comprising of pupils or students and teachers whose goals is to inculcate
relevant ideas, skills, and knowledge in other pupils or students to enable them
fit adequately into human culture, social identity as well as earn a living with
the economy (Adesina, and Ogunsaju, 1994).
The school is an institution and a social system in a community where
students receive their studies. According to Oboegbulem (2000), the secondary
school as a social system consists of individual with different personalities and
needs deposition. Pertomode (1999) states that individuals within the school
include, the principal, teachers, students and other non-academic staff,
interacting within defined boundaries for the purpose of achieving the
predetermined objectives of the school. The school administrator is the principal
involved in administration and management of secondary schools. Nwankwo in
Pertomode (1999) considers school administration as careful and systematic
arrangement and use of resource, (human and material), situation and
opportunities for the achievement of specified goals and objectives of a given
organization. Sherkalar (1998) defined school management as a guidance,
leadership and control efforts of group of people towards some common
objectives. He again stated that it is a social process or interaction and economic
49
process involving a sequence of coordinated events, which include, planning,
organizing, coordinating and controlling. He added that educational
management is concerned with the planning and formation of educational
policies for achieving educational goals.
Having observed all of the above mentioned definitions, one can deduce
that secondary school is where children from age of 11 to 15 years acquire their
knowledge. The individuals within the secondary school include the principal,
teachers, students and other non-academic staff who have areas of
responsibilities for purpose of achieving the respective goals across the
academic and vocational spectrum in which all the students were meant to
attend or study irrespective of ability and without in most cases, any significant
element of parental choice.
Concept of Community Developmental Project
Community developmental project places a high premium on, and extols
the values of self-help and voluntary cooperation among members of the
community seeking to address their problems. According to Dickson (2006),
community developmental project has been sincerely labeled as a movement
designed to promote better living for the entire community. It is galvanization of
communities into taking the necessary, urgent steps to improve their lots where
the spirit of self-help guide the zeal of people.
Community development, viewed from different perspective in respect of
psychological angle, is a temporary psycho- and sociological function, giving
50
rise to a social form within the boundaries of which personal affective ties and
situational purposive institution prevail (Beresford, 1996).
Community development is a group work technique which demands
collective action of community members in solving their identified problems.
Schuftan (2006), approached the concept of education developmental project as
coming from above. He defined education development project as a method by
which a national/State government reaches out to people at the village level and
help them use local initiative and resources to achieve increased production and
higher standard of living, and as a social process by which the people of a
community define, solve and actually work out as a community the problem
they face, relying as much as they possibly can upon local resources. Education
developmental project is seen as a means for achieving a unified approach to the
village improvement by increasing local skills in the use of democratic
processes. This definition is based on the premise that when people are given a
chance to work out their own problems they will find solutions that have a
lasting effect. Hence, its core concept is self-help.
Principle of national support and commitment to democratic values and
process were equally stressed in this definition. Gibb & Gibb (2004) argues that
education developmental project is the employment of communal effort as
mechanism for mobilizing community resources to effect physical improvement
and functional facilities in their various localities in the educational, social,
political and economic aspect of their lives. Fisher (2002) after reviewing
51
various attempts at explaining the concept of educational developmental project
by various statesmen and experts said that, education developmental project
could then be seen as development process embracing the efforts of individuals,
self-help groups, non-governmental organizations, collective thinking,
collective action and participation each uniting body identifying with different
roles towards increasing the social and economic well-being of the people and
add to the nations growth. Continuing he added, to make these uniting efforts
effective and acceptable, the people identified felt-needs must be priority
projects.
Take, for instance, community in Zone “C” of Benue State, the decision
and implementation of a project usually go to the general annual conference of
Ito Welfare Association (IWA). This makes for full participation and support of
the project. In this sense he (Schuftan 2006) stated that people will organize
themselves for planning action, defines their common and group problems and
make individual and group plan with maximum reliance upon community
resources. He further stated that these resources could be supplemented when
necessary with services and materials from government. This definition
becomes most appropriate to the area under study, since from the pilot survey
carried out, it is evident that the community relies mostly on their own
initiatives in carrying out development projects. Before any project is
undertaken, it will be discussed at Ito Welfare Association (IWA) meeting, then
the mode of implementation will be finalized. But in heavy projects where their
52
resources cannot be sufficient for carrying them out, government’s help will be
sought, like the borehole and electrification projects.
In summary, education developmental project is the people’s initiatives to
find and identify their problems and seek solutions to individual and common
problems. It is the people’s power to enhance the living conditions of the people
through self-reliance on their own resources and assistance from outside the
community if there is need.
In planning community developmental project, goals and objectives must
as a rule flow from the prioritized needs. In effect, the successful completion of
a community project is a function of well-articulated goals and objectives,
which serve as a compass for the project implementation, spell out clearly what
must be accomplished as well as provide the platform for developing the
indicators for evaluating projects.
The aim of community development is to organize a system of social
services in order to inculcate in people the spirit of self-reliance. This implies all
that would enable them to participate or ensure their full participation in
national development efforts following their integration into national scheme of
affairs through community development project. In other words, a minimum
standard of living consistent with human dignity and worth is the target. Eze
(1999) stated that community development seeks to enhance the acquisition and
redistribution of resources. It is also an educational process of social and
political awareness of the causes of their problems. Hence, community
53
developmental project is an essential contract in the larger process of social an
economic dynamic in a democratic society aimed at integrating the people into
overall socio-economic system by activating their latent productivity potentials
through the creation of conditions, which allow them to get their fair shares
economically and socially from development efforts (Eze, 1999).
The primary aim and objective of community development is self-
actualization in the context of community development and societal growth and
that its most appropriate working method is the problem solving approach. Also
community development has the aim of promoting, maintaining and supporting
community action in the same way as education stands in relation to learning.
This is then implies that the aims of community development is concerned with
development, which moves forwards and maximizes opportunities for better
understanding and to stimulate them to action. Thus the aims and objectives of
community, simply stated, are to promote, sustain, support and maintain
community action. In summary, members of a community have common goals
and aspirations and cooperation with one another for the realization of these
common goals and objectives (Ugwuanyi, 2001).
Wills (2000) stated that the fundamental problem in democratic
organization is that of recruiting, retraining and developing, even funding a
functioning leader at all levels, from the smallest local government. The ability
to find a functioning and capable leader is one of the problems of community
development project. There are people in the various communities whose
54
actions and utterances influence the thoughts, feelings and behaviours of other
members. These people stand the better chance to strike a compromise among
individuals and groups of varying interests and needs, as such, people look up to
them for leadership in a situation that demands it. This leadership is the activity
of helping people to operate towards some goals which they can find desirable.
Community leader has been considered as the basic tool for steering mass
participation in any developmental project. Community leader are the
motivating force behind active and mass participation of the community
members in developmental programmes (Eze, 1999). Some community leaders
help in identifying community problems. Uyanna in Adekobi (2008), states that,
this is done by generating awareness because some people cannot easily
perceive a common problem without being assisted. To achieve effective
participation of all the members in any community development programme,
there must be effective communication upwards, downwards, and sideways if
the community developmental programmes is to be carried out successfully.
The free flow of community makes it possible for large number of the
community members to turn up - the agents of village leaders, association
groups, town criers, masquerades, women organization youth movements.
Again, because of the emergence of these agents of communication, the
community leaders are bound to have cordial relationship with them in terms of,
or as regards, development and other activities in the community.
55
The Theoretical Framework
The theoretical framework has been treated under the following sub-
headings: Human relations theory, behavioural science theory and scientific
management theory.
Human Relation Theory
The human relation theory was propounded in 1930 by Hawthorne. The
variety of the researcher participation in the studies include Mary Peckerfolleth
(1868-1933) Ecton Mayor (1945), Felix Roethisberger and Dickson
(1939),Yauch (1949), Lewin, Lippit and White (1938). In human relation
theory, the central idea is that human factor is important in the achievement of
organizational goals. One of the major conclusions of the Hawthorne studies
was that workers’ attitudes are associated with productivity. Another was that
the work place is a social system and informal group influence could exert a
powerful effect on individual behaviour. A third was that the style of
supervision is an important factor in increasing workers job satisfaction. The
theory also holds that organizations should take steps to assist employee in
adjusting to organizational life by fostering collaborative systems between
labour and management. Such conclusion sparked increasing interest in the
human element at work; today, the Hawthorne studies are generally credited as
the impetus for the human relations theory.
According to the human relation theory, manager should possess skills
for diagnosing the causes of human behaviour at work, interpersonal
56
communication, and motivating and leading workers. The focus became
satisfying workers needs. If workers’ needs were satisfied, wisdom held, the
workers would in turn be more productive. Thus the human relations theory
focuses on issues of communication, leadership, motivation, and group
behaviour. The human relations theory of thought still influence management
theory and practice, as contemporary management focuses much attention on
human resources management, organizational behaviour, and applied
psychology in the workplace. This theory is closely related to study most
expecially in the area of leadership roles in development project and
relationship between the members and the community leaders in process
community development project for purpose of attainment of goal.
Behavioural science theory
Behavioural science theory and the study of organizational behaviour
emerged in the 1950s and 1960s. The proponents of behavioural science theory
are Chester Berner (1938), Maxweber (1910), Herbert Simon (1947),
MacGregor (1957), Halpin (1958) and Blaw and Scott (1963). The behavioral
science theory was natural progression of the human relations movement. It
focused on applying conceptual and analytical tools to the problem of
understanding and predicting behaviour in the workplace. However, the study of
behavioural science and organizational behavior was also a result of criticism of
the human relations approach as simplistic in its assumptions about the
relationship between workers’ attitudes and productivity. The study of
behavioural science in business schools was given increased credence by the
57
1959 Gordon and Howell report on higher education, which emphasized the
importance to management practitioners of understanding human behaviour.
The behavioural science theory has contributed to the study of management
through its focus on personality, attitudes, values, motivation, group behaviour,
leadership, communication, and conflict, among other issues. Some of the major
contributors to this school include Douglas, Christ Argyris, Federicks Herzberg,
Renails Likert, and Ralph Stogaill, although there are many others.
The theory is mostly concerned with understanding of human behaviour
in an organization as a system that transform inputs into outputs while in
constant interaction with its environment. The relationship between behavioural
science theory and the roles of community leaders in secondary school
development project is that for successful management and development of
schools teachers and principal must understand the workers, the job content
(project) and the work environment. The community leader must ensure that
there is equal attention to human welfare as well as the achievement of set
educational objectives as a benefit to the society or community as a basic for
effective educational development and progress on the work place. The
community leaders make sure there is conducive environment in terms of
accommodation, furniture, and other resources needed for teaching and learning
provided in good condition. This theory specifically related to this work in
aspect members towards community development projects as proper execution
of the projects.
58
The Scientific Management Theory
The scientific management theory was propounded in 1940 by Fordism
and Taylorism. The proponents of scientific management theory include
Historian Thomas P. Hughes Gaster (1920), Leon Trotsky (1930), Uladimir
Lenin (1939) and Sorensen (1956). The scientific management theory was one
of the first attempts to systematically treat management and process
improvement as a scientific problem. It was probably the first to do so in a
“bottom-up” way which is a concept that remains useful even today, in concert
with other concepts. It was merely the first interaction that has come since.
Nevertheless, common elements unite them. With the advancement of statistical
methods, quality assurance and quality control could begin in the 1920s and
1930s. During the 1940s and 1950s, the body of knowledge for doing scientific
management involved into operations management of cybernetics.
In the late 19th
century, management decisions were often arbitrary and
workers often worked at an intentionally slow pace. There was little in the way
of systematic management and workers and management were often in conflict.
Scientific management was introduced in an segment, though organization,
system, style, manger, school and concepts more practical for industry.
Increasingly, management science and management information system (MIS)
are intertwined. MIS focuses on providing needed information to managers in a
useful format and at the proper time. Decision support systems (DSS) attempt to
integrate decisions, data, and the decision maker into a system that supports
better management decisions. This theory is related to this work in the area of
practical involvement and problems encountered in the process of execution.
59
The relationship between this theory and the study of the impact of
community leaders in the secondary school developmental project is that of
leaders focuses on the operation and control of the production process that
transforms resources into finished goods and services. It has its roots in
scientific management but became an identifiable area of management study
after World War II. It uses many of the tools of management science. The
community leaders secondary school principal should ensure to be exerted a
tremendous influence in shaping modern management including capacity
planning, facilities location, facilities layout, materials requirement planning,
scheduling and inventory control, quality control, computer integrated
manufacturing and flexible manufacturing systems. However, scientific
management’s application was contingent on a high level of managerial control
over employee work practices. This necessitated a higher ratio of managerial
workers to laborers than previous management methods.
Review of Empirical Studies
The review of empirical studies has been treated under the following
headings: studies relate to development projects, studies related to secondary
school and studies related with community leadership roles.
STUDIES RELATED TO DEVELOPMENTAL PROJECT
Nkiruka (1988) carried out a study on the impact of community leaders in
community development projects. A Case Study of Okpatu, Udi Local
Government Area of Anambra State. The study used the survey research design
in carrying out the studies. The population of the study was all the adult
members of the community estimated around 7,000 (Statistics of the 1983
60
Election from the Udi Local Government Area Headquarters, Udi). The sample
was 300 respondents from the 12 different villages. The number of purpose of
study set was five as well as the research questions. The instrument used for
data collection included documentation questionnaire and oral interview.
Some of the findings of the study were as follows: that the pragmatic
leader in Okpatu community is the chief of the town. They found that the
chairman of the towns development union is the most qualified to be a leader in
terms of role assignment and function. The study as well found that the major
function of the community leader in Okpatu community are: allowing
community to do whatever they like (a laissez-faire attitude), the study again
identified that people participate actively in community activities and as well,
the leaders seek the opinion of all members before the commencement of any
project. The chief initiates development project with active participation of
others. This study is related to the study in aspects of involvement of the
community members towards the developmental projects. This will help the
researcher gain some position and negative ideas in his study.
In other empirical studies, Benga (2008), carried out is a study on
importance of educational development project in Benue State, Nigeria. The
study examined teachers and students’ performance and availability of
necessary education facilities for achieving basic education in Benue State,
Nigeria. The purpose of the study set as well research question were five (5) and
two hypothesis. A descriptive survey research design was used, and the
61
population comprised all the 156 primary and 120 junior secondary schools in
Benue State, Nigeria. Out of this population, a sample of 86 primary school and
60 junior secondary schools was taken and selected through the stratified
random sampling technique. The instrument used to collect data for the study
was an inventory while the data collected were analyzed using percentages. The
findings revealed that the level of teachers and students performance in
Universal Basic Education (UBE) in Benue State, Nigeria was low. It was also
found that educational facilities and material were not adequately available for
the Universal Basic Education programme. The number of material and
facilities in the post primary school did not match the teacher quota in the
schools. The study is guided related to this study because it deals with
educational facilities and materials which is aspects of developmental project in
the school.
Eze and Clara (2001), conducted a study on the “impact of leadership on
educational development. A case study of Obukpa Community of Nsukka Local
Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria.” In this study four (4) purposes and
research question were while only two (2) hypothesis were set with four
hundred (400) sample. The study used survey method in collecting the relevant
data. For this method was used as the researcher was interested in the accurate
assessment of the impact of community leader in the primary and junior
secondary education development project in Obukpa community of Enugu
State. The population used for this study was seventeen thousand, three hundred
62
and seventy five (17,375) respondents. It comprised of all the members from the
entire villages that make up Obukpa community in Nsukka LGA of Enugu
State. In this study a sample of four hundred (400) people was used. This
consists of all the leaders and some members of all the villages that make up the
Obukpa community.
The questionnaire constituted the main data gathering instrument for the
study. Date collected in the study was analyzed using simple percentage and
meansure. The study identified that the participation of local leaders in the
educational development project was generally low. The study also discovered
that the extent of the local leaders’ performance on the execution of community
development projects was little. It was found that one of the greatest problems
that affects community developmental project was poor financial accountability.
Gap in the study which this study intends to fill is in respect of roles of
community leaders in secondary schools development projects in zone C of
Benue state.
STUDIES RELATED TO SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
Oboegbulem (2008), carried out a study on the role of the school
administration in reform agenda for the professionals of secondary school
teachers in Anambra State, Nigeria fire purpose of study as well as research
question were set with only three hypotheses The study adopted a survey design
aimed at examining the roles of school administrator in professional
development of secondary school teachers. The population of this study
63
consisted of all the principals in secondary schools in the five education zones
of Anambra State. Available statistics at time of this research showed that the
population of secondary school principal was 323. Stratified random sampling
technique was employed in selecting 20 schools from each of the education
zones. This gives a total of 100 secondary schools. The stratification of the
sample is done using the variable of location-urban and rural. Thus, 60 urban
and 40 rural secondary schools were selected. The instrument for data collection
was a 24 item researcher developed questionnaire.
The number of purposes of study was five as well as the research
question used for the study. The result of the finding showed, among others, that
the roles of the school administration in the professional development of
teachers include retraining teachers in the new curricular and subject content,
encouraging creatively in teacher’s area of specialization, inviting professionals
to schools to help teachers update their knowledge and current issues and
equipping library with books, newspapers, journals and periodicals for teachers
reference. On constraints to quality professional development of teachers,
nonchalant attitude on the part of some school administrators about teachers’
welfares, inadequate funds to embark on professional development of teachers,
inadequate facilities and teaching materials, among others were found. The
study emphatically based on the roles of school administrator in the school but
the area of community leaders roles in schools development projects is left out
which this study has to carry out.
64
STUDIES RELATED WITH COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ROLE
Etuk (2006) investigated “the leadership provision and management of
facilities in primary and secondary schools in Calabar Cross River State
Nigeria”. The purpose of the study set were five(5) as well as research
question and three(3) hypothesis were set 200 sample population in the study,
The study adopted a survey design in carrying out the research work. The
population of the study used was 385 people in four education zones in Calabar.
The random sampling technique was employed in selecting 30 schools from
each of the education zones; this gave a total of 120 schools and 200 people in
the community and educational administrators randomly selected. Three
research questions raised and validated to guide the study. The instruments for
data collection were observation check list, questionnaire and interview. Some
of the findings are the inadequate supply of qualified special teachers for
teaching of science, technology and operational equipment in the laboratories
and introductory technology workshop. The most important findings were that
the constraints that affect instructional materials and management are the
inadequate provision, poor maintenance of the facilities and improper record
keeping. This study is basically delt with management of schools facilities by
the principal of the schools without the involvement of community leaders in
which this study has to be covered.
65
Summary of Literature Review
The review of related literature focused on conceptual framework,
theoretical framework and empirical studies on the early works of researchers
who made attempt to highlight the concepts of community, leadership,
leadership style, secondary school, and developmental projects. Community is
where a group of people living within the same geographical area that have
common values, beliefs, norms, and high degree of communalism. It is a place
where people together with face to face relationship and have same church,
school, market, hospitals etc. the community leaders are the key influential
people that exert influence and authority over the other members of the
community. The main leadership style includes the autocratic, democratic and
laissez faire leadership style. Secondary school is the social system where
children age of 12 to 14 years old attends after the primary school level.
Development is in this write up is in terms of structures which eventually lead
to increase in social system, and economic status, with the active participation
of the community members while projects refers to physical structure carried
out in the community schools by community leaders and members themselves.
The aims and objectives of education developmental projects and roles of
community leader in educational developmental project are also treated under
the conceptual framework. Theories of management include the scientific
management theory, human relations theory, and behavioural science theory
which were discussed in this study.
66
The reviewed literature revealed that leaders are important aspect of the
education development projects process hence they form the human resources
upon which all other resources depends on. In reviewing the concept of
leadership characteristics, leadership style as well as the literature reviewed on
the previous work that indicated most researchers focused on management of
school resources, maintenance of school facilities and roles of the leadership in
development of community. There was no known work by my research done on
the community leadership role on secondary school developmental projects in
Benue State. Hence the need for this presents study.
67
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHOD
This chapter discusses the method which the researcher intends to adopt
in the study. This chapter has been treated under the following subheadings:
Design of the study, area of the study, the population of the study, sample and
sampling technique, instrument for data collection, validation of the instrument,
reliability of the instrument, method of data collection and method of data
analysis.
Design of the Study
The design adopted for the study was descriptive survey design.
Descriptive survey design is used on studies which aim at collecting data on and
describing in a systematic manner, the characteristic feature or facts about a
given population (Nworgu, 2006). The descriptive design studies are mainly
concerned with descriptive events as they are without any manipulation being
observed. It is a study which seeks merely to find out “what is” and describe it.
The adoption of this design is aimed at establishing and giving a clearer picture
of roles of leaders in community development project with particular reference
to educational zone ‘C’ in Benue State.
Area of Study
The study was carried out in Benue State of Nigeria. Benue State is one
of the 36 States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It has 23 Local Government
Areas with total population of 4,253,641 people in 2006 population census and
55
68
it is located within the tropics. It shares a common boundary with Cross River
State in South, Enugu State in the East and Kogi State in the North.
This study was majorly carried out in secondary schools in the following
Local Government Areas: Obi, Oju, Otukpo, Ado and Ohimini respectively.
These areas are in the southern part in Zone ‘C’ of Benue State. They were the
earliest Local Government Areas created as far back as 1976. They formed the
second largest ethnic group in Benue State.
The Zone ‘C’ comprises of nine (9) Local Government Areas in Benue
State namely: Apa, Obi, Oju, Ado, Otukpo, Ohimini, Ogbadibo, Agatu,
Okpokwu and the choice of these areas for the study was because the zone is the
largest inLGA in the State with highest number of community and secondary
schools. It is also the largest in both population and land size. It is therefore, the
easiest to identify the effects of leadership on community development project
in secondary schools in Zone “C” of Benue State.
The Population of the Study
The population of the study was made up of all the community leaders
and principals of secondary schools in Zone ‘C’ of Benue State. The total
population in this study is one thousand two hundred (1,200) made up of six
hundred and seventy (670) community leaders (Ministry for Local Government
and Chieftaincy Affairs, Benue State, 2010/11) and five hundred and thirty
secondary school principals (Benue State Teaching Service Board BSTSB,
2010/11).
69
Sample and Sampling Technique
The sample size in this study was eight hundred (800) respondents. This
is based on the areas to be covered which include Obi, Oju, Ado, Otukpo and
Okpokwu LGAs respectively. The researcher used simple random sampling
technique to select three hundred (300) principals and five hundred (500)
community leaders giving total of eight hundred (800) respondents. 200
principals represented 200 schools in Obi, Oju and Ado LGAs while 100
principals represented 100 schools in both Otukpo and Okpokwu LGAs. On the
other hand, the 500 community leaders have 100 leaders represented in each of
the five (5) LGAs, Obi, Oju, Ado, Otukpo and Okpokwu LGAs respectively.
Instrument for Data Collection
The instrument for data collection was questionnaire designed by the
researcher titled community leader and secondary school development project
questionnaire (CLSSDPQ). It has two sections – A and B. Section A deals with
Bio-data information of respondents which include Age, Sex, Location and
experience. Section B consists of 30 items arranged in cluster with items to seek
the opinion of community leaders and principal of secondary schools on roles of
community leaders in secondary school development projects in Benue State.
The items was placed on a four point rating scale of Strongly agree (SA)
4 points, Agree (A) 3 points, Disagree (D) 2 points and Strongly disagree (SD)
1 point.
SA - Strongly agree
70
A - Agree
D - Disagree
SD - Strongly disagree
Validation of the instruments
The instrument was face validated by three experts to criticize and
recommend areas for adjustment. Two of these experts are from Educational
Administration and Planning while one is from Measurement and Evaluation all
in the Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. This was done to
ensure the content and structural coherence.
These experts are expected to review the instrument in relation to the
purpose of study, research questions and hypotheses, to check clarity of the
items, language and compatibility to statistical tools for analyses. After their
inputs and criticisms on the effectiveness of the instruments in achieving the
required objectives, the corrections were effected in the final drafts of the
instrument.
Reliability of the instrument
The validated instrument was trial tested with twelve 12 public secondary
school principals and eight (8) community leaders in Enugu State which is not
part of the study area. To ascertain the internal consistency of the instrument
Cronbach Alpha technique was used for its analysis. Reliability Coefficients for
the clusters are as follows: Cluster A: 0.87, Cluster B: 0.79, Cluster C: 0.86 and
Cluster D: 0.78 respectively. These gave an overall reliability score as 0.89. The
71
result indicated that the instrument was reliable and therefore considered
appropriate for use (See Appendix 2).
Method of Data Collection
The questionnaire designed for purpose of eliciting relevant information
for this study was personally distributed by the researcher to the respondents at
different meeting places with the help of five research assistants. The researcher
will train five (5) Research Assistants on the modality of filling the
questionnaire so that they will be able to explain and assist the respondents if
need be.
Method of Data Analysis
Data collected in this study was analyzed using Standard Deviation (SD)
and mean in answering the research question while the null hypotheses will be
tested using the t-test statistic at 0.05 level of significance. A mean of 2.50 and
above shows that the respondents agree with the corresponding item, while an
item with a mean below 2.50 indicates disagreement.
72
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION OF DATA AND ANALYSIS
This chapter presents the results of data analysis based on the four
research questions and two null hypotheses that guided the study. The results
were presented in tables according to the individual research questions and
hypothesis.
Research Question 1:
What are the roles of community leaders towards attainment of
secondary school development projects in Benue State?
The data collected with items 1-8 of the instrument which dwelt on the
roles of community leaders towards attainment of secondary school
development project in Benue State were used to answer the above stated
research questions. Data were also analyzed using mean and standard deviation.
Summary of the results was presented in table 1.
Table 1: Mean Ratings of Community Leaders and Schools Principals on
the Roles of Community Leaders Towards Attainment of Secondary School
Development Projects in Benue State.
Community leaders School Principals
n = 500 n =300
S/N
Item Description
X, SD, Dec X, SD2. Dee
1. Motivating the members towards project
participation
2.75 0.86 Agree 3.04 0.69 Agree
2. Seeking the opinion of members before the
commencement of projects
3.09 .73 Agree 2.89 0.63 Agree
3. Mobilization of the members towards the project implementation
2.92 0.66 Agree 2.78 0.71 Agree
4. Being active (i.e. leading by example). 2.64 0.71 Agree 2.60 0.72 Agree
5. Good and prudent on financial management 2.91 0.65 Agree 2.68 0.65 Agree
6. Responsibility of identifying the felt needs of
community members on how to carry out their
projects
2.59 0.72 Agree 2.61 0.77 Agree
7. Serving as a link between his community and
government on their projects.
3.07 0.74 Agree 2.94 0.75 Agree
8. Works as an agent of social change in the
community and their projects.
3.05 0.76 Agree 2.73 0.59 Agree
Cluster Mean 2.87 0.72 - 2.78 0.68 -
60
73
Key:
X1 = Mean for community leaders.
X2 = Mean for school principals.
SD1= Standard deviation for community leaders.
SD2= Standard deviation for school principals.
Dec= Decision for community leaders/schools principals.
n= sample
Based on the data shown above, all the community leaders and school
principals that responded to the questionnaire items agreed on the roles of
community leaders towards the attainment of secondary school development
projects in Benue State. This agreement of the respondents is expressed by the
mean values of each item and then, the cluster means of 2.87 and 2.78
respectively on a four point rating scale. This is indicative of the fact that both
the community leaders and school principals are of the opinion that the roles of
community leaders towards the attainment of secondary school development
projects include: Motivating the members towards projects participation,
Seeking the opinion of members before the commencement of projects,
Mobilization of the members towards the project implementation, Being active
(i.e. leading by example), Good and prudent on financial management,
Responsibility of identifying the felt needs of community members on how to
carry out their projects, Serving as a link between his community and
74
government on their projects and Working as an agent of social change in the
community on their projects.
Research Question 2
To what extent does the educational level of the community leaders affect the
development projects embarked upon by secondary schools in Benue State?
The data collected with items 9-15 of the instrument which dwelt on the
extent the educational level of the community leaders affect the development
projects embraced upon by secondary schools in Benue state were used to
answer the above research questions. Data were also analyzed using mean and
standard deviation. Summary of the results was presented in table 2.
Table 2: Mean Ratings of Community Leaders and Principals on the Extent the
Educational Level of the Community Leaders Affect the Development Projects
Embarked upon by Secondary Schools in Benue State. Community leaders School Principals
n = 500 n = 300
S/N
Item Description
X SD. Dee X SD. Dee
9. High educational attainment helps leaders to be acive in developmental projects
2.58 0.61 Agree 2.61 0.73 Agree
10. Academic attainment of leaders does not
affect their contributions towards
developmental projects.
2.41 0.72 Disagree 2.39 0.78 Disagree
11. Poor educational attainment leads to improper
accountability of fund.
3.07 0.76 Agree 2.98 0.69 Agree
12. Low educational attainment brings about choosing of project without cost benefit
analysis.
2.81 0.69 Agree 2.89 0.59 Agree
13. Good educational attainment helps for proper
utilization of educational resources.
2.94 0.81 Agree 3.02 0.88 Agree
14. Low educational attainment of leader varies
high-need projects not being properly
planned.
2.67 0.77 Agree 2.66 0.89 Agree
15. Good educational attainment helps leaders to
achieve greater execution of projects.
3.62 0.64 Agree 3.07 0.81 Agree
- Cluster Mean 2.87 0.71 - 2.80 0.76 -
75
By the data shown in table 2 above, majority of community leaders and
school principals disagreed with item 10, that academic attainment of leaders
did not affect their contributions towards developmental projects.
However, based on the data generated above, the mean ratings for items
9, 11-15 exceed 2.50 for both community leaders and school principals. It is the
decision here that those who responded to the questionnaire items under
this matter, disagreed with only one (1) of the items. This decision is further
expressed by the data showing the mean values of the items. In the table, out of
seven (7) items, only one (1) that is item 10 score mean value below 2.50,
others that is, items 9, 11-15 their mean scores range from 2.58 to 3.62 both
community leaders and school principals respectively. The cluster means of
2.87 and 2.80 for community leaders and school principals respectively also is
an indication of their agreement on the extent the educational level of the
community leaders affect the development projects embarked upon by
secondary schools in Benue State.
Research Question 3
What style of community leadership is most effective for proper execution
of secondary school development projects in Benue State?
The data collected with items 16-22 of the instrument which dwelt on the
style the of the community leadership that is most effective for proper
execution of secondary school development projects in Benue State were used
to answer the above research question using mean and standard deviation.
Summary of the results were presented in table 3.
76
Table 3: Mean Ratings of Community Leaders and School Principals on the Style of
Community Leadership most Effective for Proper Execution of Secondary School
Development Projects in Benue State.
Community leaders School Principals
n =500 n = 300
S/N
Item Description
X SD. Dee X SD. Dee
16 Requires a leader who initiates projects
feels best for community members and
compels others to contribute whether
they like it or not.
2.42 0.68 Agree 2.37 0.81 Disagree
17. Requires a leader who seeks opinion of
the majority of community members
before embarking upon a given project
3.38 0.78 Agree 3.68 0.75 Agree
18. Requires a leader who allows
community members to decide by
themselves and do what they like
2.21 0.71 Disagree 2.03 0.66 Disagree
19. Requires a leader who raises among
others based on his own effort to carry
out community projects without the
assistance of others.
2.51 0.69 Agree 2.58 0.67 Agree
20. Requires a leader whose qualities is well
recognized by others to carry out
projects based on his capacity.
2.78 0.63 Agree 2.72 0.78 Agree
21. Requires a leader who influences the
activities and behaviour of an individual
or group in an effort to attain a goal for
the group.
2.89 0.70 Agree 2.80 0.83 Agree
22. Requires a leader who has natural status,
position of authority and supernatural
qualities of influencing others.
2.81 0.69 Agree 2.90 0.88 Agree
From the tabulated data above, it was that majority of community leaders and
school principals disagreed that most effective style of community leadership
requires a leader who initiates projects and feels best for the community
members and compels others to contribute whether they like it or not. Both of
them (respondents) however, agreed on the fact that it requires a leader who
seeks opinion of the majority of community members before embarking upon a
given project.
77
Again, based on the data generated above, both of the respondent groups
disagreed on item 18 under this matter. Their disagreement was expressed
through the mean values which is not up to 2.50. Conclusively, these
respondents on the other hand, expressed agreement on items 17, 19- 22. The
five items have mean scores exceeding 2.50 for both community leaders and
school principals. The cluster means of 2.68 and 2.69 for community leaders
and school principals respectively also is an indication of their agreement on the
style of leadership most effective for proper execution of secondary school
development projects in Benue State.
Research Question 4
What are the major problems encountered by the community leaders in
executing secondary school development projects in Benue State?
The data collected with items 23-30 of the instrument which dwelt on the
major problems encountered by the community leaders in executing in
secondary school developed projects in Benue state were used to answer the
above research questions. Data were also analyzed using the mean and standard
deviation. Summary of the results were presented in table 4.
78
Table 4: Mean Ratings of Community Leaders and School Principals on The Major
Problems Encountered by The Community Leaders in Executing Secondary School
Developed Projects in Benue State.
Community leaders School Principals
n = 500 n = 300
S/N
Item Description
X SD. Dee X SD. Dee
23. One problem affecting leaders in execution
of projects is involvement of politics.,
3.02 0.81 Agree 2.99 0.86 Agree
24. Lack of coordination affects execution of
projects
2.89 0.69 Agree 2.91 0.77 Agree
25. Lack of fund leads to poor execution of
project
2.79 0.84 Agree 2.69 0.66 Agree
26. Poor financial accountability affects
execution of project
2.96 0.69 Agree 2.68 0.86 Agree
27. Group conflict affects the execution of
project
2.59 0.91 Agree 3.68 0.88 Agree
28. Problems of planning and implementation
of projects by leaders lead to improper
execution of project.
3.02 0.90 Agree 2.94 0.71 Agree
29. Self-centered leadership affects execution of
project.
2.73 0.70 Agree 2.81 0.68 Agree
30. Pride by the leaders lead to poor execution
of community project
2.61 0.59 Agree 2.73 0.78 Agree
- Cluster Mean 2.82 0.76 - 2.88 0.77 -
From the data obtained and presented above, both community leaders and
school principals were of the opinion that all the items under this matter are the
major problems encountered by the community leaders in executing secondary
school developed project in Benue State. Their agreement were further
expressed through the mean values of the items. Hence, the mean rating of the
community leaders and school principals who responded to the eight (8) item
questionnaire on the matter indicated their honest agreement. In the table above,
mean ratings of community leaders range from 2.59 to 3.02 while that of the
school principals range from 2.68 to 3.07 with the cluster means of 2.82 and
79
2.88 respectively both of which are on the high side and greater than 2.50 which
is the base point.
Hypothesis 1
There is no significant difference between the mean ratings of community
leaders and school principals with regard to leadership style that is most
effective for the execution of secondary school development project in Benue
State.
Table 5: t-test Analysis of Community Leaders’ and School Principals’
responses on Leadership style that is most effective for the Execution of
Secondary School Developed Projects in Benue State.
Variables n
X SD.
df
t-cal Level
of
sign
Dec
Community leaders 670. 2.71 0.69
1198
1.59
0.11
School principals 530 2.27 0.76 Accepted
The analysis shows the probability associated with the calculated value of
t(1.59) is 0.11. Since the probability value of 0.11 is greater than the level of
significance, the null hypothesis is accepted, implying that there is no
significant difference in the mean rating scores of community leaders and
school principals with regard to leadership style that is most effective for the
execution of secondary school development projects in Benue State.
80
Hypothesis 2
There is no significant difference between the mean ratings of community
leaders and school principals with regard to the roles of community leaders
towards successful accomplishment of secondary school development projects
in Benue State.
Table 6: t-test Analysis Of Community Leaders’ And School Principals’
Responses on Community Leaders and Principals With Regard to
the Roles of Community Leaders Towards Successful Accomplishment of
Secondary School Development Projects in Benue State.
Variables n
X SD.
df
t-cal Level
of
sign
Dec
Community leaders 670 2.77 0.72
1198
1.48
0.10
School principals 530 2.78 0.68 Accepted
Data on Table 6 indicates that the probability associated with the
calculated value of t(1.48) is 0.10. Since the probability value of 0.10 is greater
than the 0.05 level of significance, the null hypothesis is accepted proving that
there is no significant difference in the mean rating scores of community leaders
and school principals with regard to the roles of community leaders towards
successful accomplishment of secondary school development projects in Benue
State.
81
Summary of Findings
Given the analysis of responses from both community leaders and school
principals on the items of research questions and hypothesis formulated for this
study, the summary of findings are presented as follows:
The roles of community leaders towards attainment of secondary school
development project are: motivating members towards project participation,
seeking the opinion of members before commencement of project, mobilization
of members towards project implementation, being active, good and prudent
financial management, responsibility of identifying the felt need of community
members on how to carry out their projects, serving as a link between his
community and government on their projects, and working as agent of social
change in the community on their projects. This general opinion arose after
taking into cognizance of the reactions and views of the community leaders and
school principals who responded to the thirty (30) items of the questionnaire
formulated for this study. Their views also gave chance to find out that:
The educational attainment of the community leaders affect the
development projects embarked upon by secondary schools in such ways as:
helping leaders to be active in developmental projects, affecting the
contributions towards developmental projects, poor educational level of leaders
leads to improper accountability of fund, and brings about choosing of project
without cost benefit analysis, good education attainment helps for proper
utilization of education resources, low education attainment of leader varies
82
high-need projects not being properly planned and finally, that good education
attainment helps leaders to achieve greater execution of projects.
Community leadership style includes a leader who seeks opinion of the
majority of community members before embarking upon a given project, a
leader whose qualities is well recognized by others to carry out project based on
his/her capacity and a leader who has natural status, position of authority and
supernatural qualities of influencing others.
Major problems encountered by the community leaders in executing
developmental projects include: involvement in politics, lack of coordination,
lack of fund, group conflicts, problem of planning and implementation, self-
centered leadership and pride among leaders.
83
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS, IMPLICATIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS,
CONCLUSION OF THE STUDY AND SUMMARY
This chapter presents the discussions of the findings of this study,
conclusion, implications, recommendations and limitations, suggestions for
further research study and summary of the study. Discussions are made
according to the research questions and hypothesis formulated for the study.
Discussion of Findings
The roles of community leaders towards attainment of secondary
schools development project in Benue State.
From the responses made on research question one of the study, it was
agreed that the roles of community leaders are: motivating the members towards
project participation, seeking the opinion of members before commencement of
project, mobilization of members towards the project implementation, being
active, good and prudent financial management, identifying the felt needs of
community members on how to carry out their projects, serving as a link
between his community and government on their projects, and working as agent
of social change in the community on their projects.
This study is in agreement with that of Ezeocha (2006), who stated that
roles of leaders majorly involve the ability of an individual to mobilize human
resources in response to the felt needs of the group. It is also in line with that of
Ugwuanyi (2008), who summarizes the roles of the community leaders to
71
84
include a community leader has the responsibility of identifying the felt needs
of his community members, among others.
The result of the test of the second hypothesis further buttressed this
finding because there was no significant difference between the opinion of
community leaders, and school principals with regard to the roles of community
leaders towards attainment of secondary school development project. This
suggests that the community leaders and school principals were of similar
opinion on the roles of community leaders towards attainment of secondary
school development project.
Determine the extent to which the educational level of the community
leaders affects the development projects of secondary schools in Benue
State.
With regard to the second research question which elicits information on
the extent educational level of the community leaders affects the development
project embarked upon by secondary schools in Benue State, the respondents
agreed that high educational attainment helps leaders to be active in
development projects. However, they disagreed that academic attainment of
leaders does not affect their contributions towards development projects. The
respondents (community leaders and school principals) also agreed that poor
educational attainment brings about choosing of project without cost benefit
analysis and that good education attainment helps for proper utilization of
education resources.
85
Again, they were of the opinion that low education attainment of leader
varies high-need projects not being properly planned. And that good education
attainment helps leaders to achieve greater execution of projects.
The above findings are in consonance with that of Boggs (1996) who
stated that educational level of community leaders obviously plays a
tremendous role in their approach towards secondary school development
projects. And that those leaders are capable of knowing how best to channel the
resources of the community towards meaningful development project such as
road construction, erection of classroom structure, school library and other
school structures.
Find out how the style of community leadership that is most effective for
the execution of secondary school development projects in Benue State.
With reference to research question three, which sought to find out the
style of community leadership most effective for proper execution of secondary
school development project in Benue State, the respondents disagreed that
leadership style most effective for proper execution of secondary school
development projects requires a leader who initiates projects feels best for
community members and compels others to contribute whether they like it or
not. However, they agreed that effective leadership style requires a leader who
seeks opinion of the majority of community members before embarking upon a
given project. Again, they disagreed that it requires a leader who allows
community members to decide by themselves and do what they like. But they
86
agreed that it requires a leader who rises among others based on his effort to
carry out community projects without the assistance of others. Similarly, they
agreed on the fact that it requires a leader whose quality is well recognized by
others to carry out project based on his or her capacity. Also they agreed that it
requires a leader who influences the activities and behaviour of an individual or
group in an effort to attain a goal for the groups, and a leader who has natural
status, position of authority and supernatural qualities of influencing others.
This implies that effective leadership style brings about proper execution of
secondary school development projects. This verification is in line with that of
Ezeocha (2006), who opined that good leadership involve the art of
coordinating and motivating individuals and group of a community member to
achieve their desired goals. He is also of the view that in the absence of
effective leadership, life would be poor, nasty, solitary, brutish and as well
short.
The result of the test of the first hypothesis further buttressed this finding
because there was no significant difference between the opinion of community
leaders and school principals with regard to the style of community leadership
most effective for proper execution of secondary school development project.
This suggests that the community leaders and school principals were of similar
opinion that effective community leadership style brings about proper execution
of secondary school development project.
87
Identify the problems by the community leaders in executing secondary
school development projects in Benue State.
Looking at the research question four, which discusses the major
problems encountered by the community leaders in executing secondary school
development project in Benue State, the respondents (community leaders and
school principals) agreed that the major problems encountered by the
community leaders in executing secondary school development project are:
involvement in politics, lack of coordination, lack of funds, poor financial
accountability, group conflicts, poor planning, self-centered leadership style,
and pride by the leaders. The truthfulness of these findings cannot be
overemphasized. This is because, the most cases of poor execution and
negligence of secondary school development projects by community leaders are
not unconnected with the problems encountered in executing school
development projects. This is in agreement with that of Edem (1982), who
maintained that most often, community leaders encounter some major problems
in the face of executing school development projects such as: political
involvement, lack of coordination and fund. Group conflict among others. This
therefore, has suggested that in the course of school development projects,
community leaders encounter varied major problems which often result to poor
execution and negligence of school development projects.
88
Conclusion
From the findings obtained from this study and observations of the
researcher, the following conclusions can be deduced. The community leaders
have much role to play to achieve the secondary school development project
target. The community leaders who have attained a reasonable level of
education stand better chances of influencing progressively the secondary
school development projects. The political involvement in execution of projects
and lack of coordination, among others, are some of the major problems why
the roles of community leaders towards proper execution of secondary school
projects most often fail. Any community leader who allows the members to
decide by themselves and possibly do whatever they like is not operating under
a good leadership style.
Educational implications
One of the educational implications of the findings is that leadership roles
is the major tool for effective and efficient execution of secondary school
development projects. The neglect of roles among community leaders, mars the
execution of school development projects. Therefore, community leaders must
of necessity, commit and discharge necessary roles in the pursuit and
accomplishment of secondary school development projects. Another implication
of this study is that poor implementation and neglect of secondary school
development projects, among community leaders in various capacities have
been attributed to the poor leadership style. To tackle these problems requires
89
that community leaders should adopt good leadership style in order to meet up
with the secondary school development projects targets.
Finally, there are causes of political involvement, lack of coordination
and group conflicts among community leaders among others. These problems
are traceable to poor leadership roles among community leaders. Thus, for
secondary school development projects to be effectively executed, it is expected
that community leaders should commit to discharge their leadership roles
without any fear or favour.
Limitations of the study
The study had one major limitation. Although the study accomplished the
purpose for which it set out to achieve, it could not obtain the views of some
key respondents (for example, the leaders) which could have made the result
more valid. Limiting respondents to only community leaders and principals was
therefore restrictive.
Suggestions for further study
Based on the findings of this study, the researcher suggests that further
research work should be carried out in some other areas relating to this study.
Such areas are indicated below:
1. Constraints to effective community leadership roles on secondary school
development projects.
90
2. Effects of poor community leadership roles on secondary school projects
in school administration.
Recommendations
Based on the findings, observations and conclusions of this study, the
researcher arrived at the following recommendations:
1. Community leaders should be committed to perform their roles in the
community development projects.
2. Community leaders should be committed to utilize the knowledge of their
attained educational background to influence progressively the secondary
school development projects.
3. In order to facilitate effective leadership community leaders should
ensure that an opinion of the majority members of the community is
sought for before embarking upon a given project.
4. Community leaders should ensure that: secondary school development
projects are not politicized in any form.
Summary of the study
The study investigated the survey of community leadership roles on
secondary school development projects in Benue State. The need for the study
stems from the fact that some of the community leaders do not actually
appreciate the value of secondary school development projects. They rather
embezzle some of the fund eye marked for secondary school development
91
projects and get them abandoned. In this case, some community leaders even
see the fund generated from the community for secondary school development
project as their own income. Similarly, some leaders do not consider the opinion
of the community members before embarking on a given project.
Four research questions and two null hypotheses were formulated for the
study. A thirty (30) item study questionnaire was developed and administered to
six hundred and seventy (670) community leaders and five hundred and thirty
(530) principals in the five hundred and thirty (530) secondary schools in the
zone.
The data collected were analyzed with regard to each research question
using mean scores. A mean score of 2.50 was adopted as the cut-off point or
acceptable level for the statements. The t-test statistics was employed in testing
the null hypothesis formulated for the study.
The analysis shows that community leaders and principals who responded
to the items agreed that roles of community leaders towards attainment of
secondary school projects include: motivating the members towards project
participation, seeking the opinion of community members before
commencement of project, mobilizing the members towards the project
implementation, being active and leading by example, good and prudent on
financial management, identifying the felt needs of community members on
how to carry out their projects, serving as a link between community and
government on their projects and working as agent of social change in the
92
community on their projects. The analysis equally indicates that the educational
background of community leaders affect the development projects of secondary
schools. This is because high educational attainment helps leaders to be more
active in developmental projects, and proper utilization of education resources
among others. Conversely, poor educational attainment of community leaders
leads to improper accountability of fund.
Furthermore, the analysis proves that the community leadership style
most effective for proper execution of secondary school development projects
requires: a leader who seeks opinion of the majority of community members
before embarking upon a given project, a leader whose qualities is well
recognized by others to carry out project based on his or her capacity, a leader
who influences the activities and behaviour of an individual or group in an
effort to attain a goal for the group, and a leader who has natural status position
of authority and supernatural qualities of influencing others.
Finally, the analysis equally shows that the major problems encountered
by the community leaders in executing secondary school development projects
include: execution of projects being involved in politics, lack of coordination,
lack of funds, poor financial accountability, group conflict, planning and
implementation problem, self-centered leadership, and pride among leaders.
93
REFERENCES
Aderounmu, E. (1995). Adult leadership. Washington: Educational Press
Association of America. 23(1).
Adesina, S. and Ogunsaju, S. (1994). Secondary School Education in Nigeria.
Ile-Ife: University of Ife Press.
Agabi, O.G. (1995). Approaches to educational planning. In V.E. Peretomode
(Ed). Introduction to educational administration and supervision. Lagos:
Joja Educational Research and Publishing Ltd.
Ajayi, A.D. (2003). Management theories, techniques and practice: basic
concepts on economics, planning and administration of education, Ibadan:
University of Ibadan Press.
Anyanwu, C.N. (2007). Oral interview on leadership qualities and principles
and practices of adult education, Ibadam: Abi Printing and Publishing
Company.
Bello, I.O. (1990). Community development,” the backbone of promoting
social-economic growth: Zaria. Olusey Pub. Company.
Benga, A. (2008). The importance of educational development in Benue State.
Unpublished Ph.D Thesis: Department of Sociology and Anthropology
UniJos.
Beresford, J. (1996). “Now you see it, now you don’t” Community development
Journal, 12 (5) 31-35.
Beresman, O.C. (1998). “The impact of community leaders in community
development” Unpublished B.Ed. Thesis, Department of Adult Education
and Extra-Mural Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Boggs, D.L. (1996). Community service, public participation; A case study of
citizen education and action. Adult Education Quarterly 4(7) 37-39
Brien, E.O. (1999). “Cooperative structure and relationship of leader and
member ability to group performance,” Journal of Applied Psychology,.
64.(1) 2-5
Bruce, R.C. (1998). Planning with people: An integrated extension service in
Papua New Guinea, In Bruce R.C. and Shankaviah, S. (eds) Extension
education and rural development. New York: John Wiley and Sons Inc.
2.(1) 22-25.
94
Dennis, D.A. (1997). Adult leadership, Washington: Educational Press
Association of America.
Dickson, M. (2006). “Community development and grandam movement in
India” The Community Development Journals, 3(2) 20-25.
Dunham, A. (2007). “Community development” in North American Community
Development Journal, 7(1) p.4.
Edekobi, A.F.I. (1998). “The impact of community leaders in community
development. (A case study of Onitsha Adi Community)” Unpublished
B.Ed. Thesis, Department of Adult Education and Extra-Mural Studies,
UNN.
Etuk, A.I. (2006). The leadership provision and management of facilities in both
primary and secondary schools in Cross River State. Calabar. Unpublished
Ph.D Thesis: Department of Educational Foundation, University of
Calabar.
Eze and Clara (2001). Impact of leadership on community development. A case
study of Obukpa community of Nsukka Local Govt. area, Enugu State.
Unpublished B.Ed Thesis. Department of Adult Education and Extra-Mural
Studies, UNN.
Eze, C.A. (1999). Theory and practice of community development: Introduction
to community development, Nsukka: Liberty Printing Press.
Ezeocha, P.A. (2006). Leadership role of the principal, “School administration,
implication for adult education. Obasi, Pacific Correspondence College
and Press Ltd.
Federal Government, (2006). Population census of federal republic of Nigeria.
Abuja: Government Printing Press.
Fisher, R. & Romanorstky, P. (2002). Community organization for urban social
change: A History perspective. Westport Connecticut Greenwood Press.
Fussell, W. (1998). Development and community”. community development
Journal .31, (44-49).
Gibb, M. & Gibb, K. (2004). “Evaluating in community work, Part I,”
Community Development, Journal, D.C.T., 8.(1).
Giffiths, F.M. (2007) foundations of behavioral research. New York. Host
Rinehart and Winston, Inc.
95
Hogan O.E & Craig .A (2008). An emerging theory of organizational leadership
and management in Petrullo R. and Bass B.N. Leadership and
interpersonal behaviour. New York: Held Pub. Ltd.
Hornby, A.S. (Ed) (2003). Advanced learners’ dictionary of current English,
Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Knezevucg (1995). “Leadership for successful exclusive schools: A Study of
Principals’ Behaviour” Journal of Educational Administration.
Mezirow, D.J. (1992). Dynamics of community development, New York:
Scarecrow Press Ind.
Mgbodile, T.O. (2003). Fundamentals in educational administration and
planning, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Magnet Business Enterprises
Publishers.
Mhehe, E.G. (2007). The role of school administrators in management of
developmental Projects: Opinion Paper. Retrieved from
http://edressorg/eric/ed 40862.htm.
Mind, A.E. & Knezevich, J. (1995). “Evaluating in community work Part I”.
Community Leadership Journal O.C. 8. (1).
Nkiruka, D.U. (1988). Impact of Community leaders in community
development. A case study of Okpatu Udi Local Govt. area in Enugu State.
Unpublished B.Ed thesis: Department of Adult Education, UNN.
Nnenna, I. (1990). “Leadership style in education” mimeograph in educational
administration, federal college of education, Eha-Amufu, Enugu State.
Nworgu, B.G. (2006). Educational measurement and evaluation. Theory and
Practice. Enugu: Hallman Publishers.
NYSC & Anka Directorate (1980). Culture-oriented management for Nigeria.
Journal of Management in Nigeria. 3 (22) p.4.
Obanya, P. (2004). The Dilemma of Education in Africa Ibadan: Sterling
Horden publishers.
Oboegbulem, A. (2000). Management of stress by secondary school principals
in Enugu State. Journal of the Association for Promoting Quality
Education in Nigeria (6), 45-58.
Oboegbulem, A. (2007). Role of the school administrator in reform agenda for
professional of secondary school teachers in Anambra State. International
Journal of Administration. 3.(1) p.5
96
Ogbommay, N.O. (2003) Principles and applications of educational policies in
Nigeria. Nsukka. University Trust publishers.
Onyechi, C.A. (2001). The changing concept of leadership and how it could be
brought about through non formal education, mimeograph, Department of
Adult Education, Nsukka: University of Nigeria Press.
Osborne & Ume (1996). Leadership role of the principal. School
administration, implication for Adult Education in Okafor, F.C. Enugu:
Obasi, Pacific Correspondence College and Press Ltd.
Peretomode, V.F. (1996). Administration of principal and school management.
Ibadan: Abi Printing Publishing Company.
Peretomode, V.F. (1999). Educational administration applied concept and
theoretical perspective for students and practitioners. Ikeja: Joka
Educational Research and Publishers.
Peteroy, E.T. (2001). Effect of members and leader expectations on Group
Outcome,” Journal of Counsel Psychology London.
Saheny and Chanterge (1999). The leadership we want in Nigeria. Anambra
State. Horizontal Publishers, Anambra State.
Schuftan, O. (2006). The community development dilemma, London: Oxford
University Press (Review).
Sore & Epps (1996)/ Urban and rural development in Nigeria. London:
Heilnaman Educational Books Ltd.
Stogail, U. (1998). “Community development and grandam movement in India”
The Community Development Journals, England, 3 (1).
Taylor, B.B. (1997). Community and their development. London: Oxford
University Press (Review).
Ugwuanyi, L.E. (2001). “The role of local leaders in community development:
A Study of Obollo-Etiti in Udenu LGA of Enugu State. Unpublished B.Ed.
Thesis, Department of Adult Education and Extra-Mural Studies, UNN.
Ume, T.A. (2001). Leadership in community development” lecture series,
UNN.
Wills, V.I. (2000). A study of leadership adult leadership,” Washington:
Educational Press Association of America, 23.(1).
97
Department of Educational
Foundations
University of Nigeria
Nsukka
20th
August, 2012
Dear Sir/Madam,
REQUEST FOR VALIDATION OF RESEARCH INSTRUMENT
I am a post graduate student (MED) of the above department of this university. I am
currently undertaking a research on the topic “Impact of community leaders in
secondary school developmental project in zone “C” of Benue State.
You are requested to check for ambiguous statement and relevance of the instrument
to the purpose of the study and the research questions. The purpose of the study,
research questions and hypothesis are attached below for your confirmation and
guidance please.
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.
Yours faithfully,
Ajeh Uche Cletus PG/MED/10/57213
Researcher
98
Purpose of the Study
The major purpose of the study is to investigate the impact of community
leadership in secondary schools developmental projects in Zone ‘C’ of Benue State.
Specifically, this study seeks to:
1. Determine the roles of those leaders towards successful accomplishment of the
secondary school developmental project in Benue State.
2. Determine the extent to which the educational level of the community leaders
affect the developmental project of the secondary schools in Benue State.
3. Find out how the style of leadership employed has affected the execution of
secondary school development projects in Benue State.
4. Identify the various problems encountered by the community leaders in
executing secondary school developmental projects in Benue State.
99
Research Questions
The following research questions were formulated to guide the study:
1. What are the roles of community leaders towards attainment of secondary
school developmental project in Benue State.
2. To what extent does the educational level of the community leaders affect
the development projects embarked upon by secondary schools in Benue
State?
3. What style of community leadership exist that is more effective for
proper execution of secondary school developmental project in Benue
State.
4. What are the major problems encountered by the community leaders in
executing secondary school developmental project in Benue State.
100
Hypothesis
The following null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study and
will be tested at 0.05 level of significance:
HO1: There is no significant difference between the mean rating scores of
community leaders and principals with regard to leadership that is more
effective for the execution of secondary school development projects in
Benue State.
HO2: There is no significant difference between the mean rating scores of
community leaders and principal with regard to the roles of leaders
towards successful accomplishment of secondary school developmental
projects in Benue State.
101
Department of Educational
Foundations
University of Nigeria
Nsukka
20th
November, 2012
Dear Respondent
I am a student of the above named department currently carrying out a research study
on the Impact of community leaders in secondary schools developmental projects in
Zone ‘C’ of Benue State. I therefore, humbly request that you read each of the
following statements carefully and tick (√) in the spaces provided against the answer
you considered most appropriate.
Your response to the question will in no small measure contribute to the success of
this research. It is purely for academic purposes. Hence your sincere responses are
highly needed and will be treated confidentially.
Thanks for the anticipated cooperation.
Yours faithfully,
Ajeh U. C.
Researcher
102
QUESTIONNAIRE ON COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND SECONDARY
SCHOOL DEVELOPMENTAL PROJECTS
Instrument
Please tick (√) where applicable in the column provided.
1. Gender (a) Male [ ] (b) Female [ ]
2. Age range (a) 20-30 years [ ] (b) 31-40 years [ ] (c) 41-50 years [ ]
(d) 51-60 years [ ] (e) 61 years and above [ ]
3. Marital status: (a) Single [ ] (b) Married [ ] (c) Separated [ ]
(d) Divorced [ ] (e) Widowed [ ]
4. The highest Education qualification: (a) FSLC [ ] (b) WASC/GCE [ ]
(c) Civil servant [ ] (e) Artisan [ ] (f) Student [ ]
(g) Other (specify) ______________
SECTION B
CLUSTER A
Roles of community leaders
S/N Statement Strongly
Agree
Agree Disagree Strongly
disagree
1. Motivating the members towards
project participation
2. Seeking the opinion of members
before commencement of project.
3. Mobilization of the members
towards the project implementation.
4. Being active (i.e. leading by
example)
5. Good and prudent financial
management
6. Responsibility of identifying the felt
needs of community members on
how to carry out their projects
7. Serves as a link between his
community and government on their
projects.
8. Works as agent of social change in
the community on their projects.
103
CLUSTER B
Extent of the educational level of the community leaders.
S/N Statement VGE GE LE NE
9 High educational attainment helps leaders to be
active in developmental project
10 Academic attainment of leaders does not affect
their contributions towards developmental
projects.
11 Poor educational attainment leads to improper
accountability of fund..
12. Low educational attainment brings about
choosing of project without cost benefit analysis.
13 Good education attainment helps for proper
utilization of education resources.
14 Low education attainment of leader varies high-
need projects not being properly planned.
15. Good education attainment helps leaders to
achieve greater execution of projects.
Cluster C
Please tick (√) the option that is acceptable to you..
Style of leadership in Zone ‘C’ Communities of Benue State S/N Statement Strongly
agree
Agree Disagree Strongly
disagree
16 Requires a leader who initiates
projects feels best for community
members and there compels others to
contribute whether they like it or not.
17. Requires a leader who seeks opinion
of the majority of community
members before embarking upon a
given project
18. Requires a leader who allows
community members to decide by
themselves and do what they like.
19. Requires a leader who raises among
others based on his own effort to
carry out community project without
the assistance of others.
20. Requires a leader whose qualities is
well recognized by others to carry
out project base on his or her
capacity.
104
21. Requires a leader who influences the
activities and behaviour of an
individual or group in an effort to
attain a goal for the group.
22. Requires a leader who has natural
status, position of authority and
supernatural qualities of influencing
others.
CLUSTER D
Major problems encountered by the community leaders.
S/N Statement Strongly
agree
Agree Disagree Strongly
disagree
23 One problem affecting leaders in
execution of projects is involvement
in politics.
24.. Lack of coordination affects
execution of project.
25. Lack of funds lead to poor execution
of project.
26. Poor financial accountability affect
execution of project
27. Group conflicts affect the execution
of project.
28. Problems of planning and
implementation of projects by the
leaders lead to improper execution of
project.
`
29. Self-centered leadership affects
execution of project.
30. Pride by the leaders lead to poor
execution community projects.