CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the study

Education is widely believed to be a tool of development. It is seen as a means ofdeveloping an individual, the society and nations. Education is a veritable tool for social change, national integration and development (National Teachers Institute, 2011). It is considered as one of the most essential basic services to be provided by government and even concerned well-to-do individuals. For this undisputable reason, nations are investing a lot of resources in educating their citizens. Nigeria, like other countries of the world, acknowledges that education is a vital tool for achieving national development. Consequently, she has joined other nations in their match towards worthwhile educational investments and reforms (Ebelechukwu in NTI, 2011).

For this reason Nigeria like other comity of nations, believes in functional education as a means of achieving its national goals and hence invests heavily on the sector with a view to reap the benefits therein. But it is believed that the achievement of this objective can only be possible if all efforts are put in place properly. By this; it is meant all stakeholders discharge their assigned responsibilities with all seriousness; among which include purposeful and competent school management. The school managers provide leadership in coordinating and directing human and material resources to ensure achievement of learning objectives. It is necessary for school heads to know how to manage school effectively and efficiently in order to improve the quality of teaching and learning (NTI, 2011)