Comparative analysis of administrative leadership styles of principals in public and private schools in Oriade Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study compared the administrative leadership style of principals in public and private secondary schools in Oriade Local Government Area, Osun State Nigeria. The study employed the comparative research design. Respondents were two hundred secondary school teachers selected using the purposive sampling technique from twenty randomly selected schools in Oriade Local Government Area, Osun State Nigeria. Two valid and reliable instruments; Administrative leadership style Questionnaire, and Teachers’ Effectiveness Questionnaire (TEQ) was used to collect data from the respondents. Independent sample Test (t-test) statistical tool was used to analyze the data obtained. The results indicated significant difference in the administrative leadership style of principals in public and private schools for democratic leadership style (t=3.838,p≤0.05); laissez-faire leadership style (t=2.746,p≤0.05); While autocratic leadership style(t=0.363,p≥0.05) did not differ significantly. The results further revealed significant gender difference for autocratic (t=3.158,p≤0.05) and transactional (t=2.118,p≤0.05) leadership styles. However, laissez-faire leadership style demonstrated no significant difference (t=1.426,p≥0.055). There was no significant difference in the influence of administrative leadership style of Principals in public and private schools on teachers’ effectiveness (t=1.263,p≥0.05). Based on the findings, the study recommended that the state ministry of education should organize regular inspection to both private and public schools to monitor the style of leadership used by principals that could enhance better job performance among teachers.