The Impact of the Nigerian Union of Teachers on the Management of Educational Crises in Secondary Schools in Nigeria
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The main objective of the study is to ascertain the impact of Nigerian union of teachers on the management of educational crises in secondary schools in Nigeria; but to aid the completion of the study, the researcher intends to achieve the following specific objectives;
- To ascertain the impact of NUT in the management of crises in secondary schools in Nigeria
- To examine the role of NUT in combating the menace of mismanagement in secondary schools
- To examine the effect of NUT on the management style of secondary schools in Nigeria
- To ascertain if there is any relationship between NUT and crises management in secondary schools
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Introduction
Conflicts have become part and parcel of human organizations world over. This indeed is a paradox because of the amount of energy and resources expended by organizations to prevent and resolve conflicts. Flippo (1980) attempted an explanation when he remarked that, “a total absence of conflict would be unbelievable, boring, and a strong indication that conflicts are being suppressed”. The inevitability of conflict was also established by Harold Kerzner (1998) when he asserted that conflict is part of change and therefore inevitable. It is therefore not an aberration to expect conflicts in the administration of secondary schools in Osun State. The nature and types of conflicts that occur in secondary school administration vary from one school to another. The common types of conflicts usually occur between the students on one hand and the school authority on the other. Other forms of conflict include interpersonal conflicts among staff and as well as the students. Higher levels of conflicts include those that involve the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the State Government. This study was particularly relevant at a time when Osun State workers (teachers inclusive) had to embark on a prolonged strike over the nonimplementation of the Harmonized Salary Structure (HSS) announced by the Federal Government. The partial implementation of HSS for workers in the state after a long delay did not help matters. All of these became potential sources of industrial conflicts not only in the educational sector, but also in the entire civil service in the state. The inability of the state government to effect payment of salaries promptly and the subsequent forceful retirement of teachers and other civil servants further aggravated the problem. Some have attributed the problems of conflicts in secondary schools to poor salaries and facilities. In the words of Ademola, (a teacher who became a lawyer) cited by Oladepo (1985) the salary was poor to the extent that “… society would not accord me respect as a teacher, for I was regarded as one of the wretched of the earth. When the opportunity came, I called it quit immediately and have had no regrets ever since”. An investigation into the nature of conflicts, their causes as well as their effects on school administration are important in order to ensure harmony in the state and to facilitate higher productivity. There are various uses for the term management, which could mean a different thing to different people in different contexts. Some use the term to mean a field of study or an academic discipline.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought an investigate the impact of the Nigerian union of teachers on the management of educational crises in secondary schools in Nigeria
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information on the study, the impact of the NUT on the management of educational crises in secondary schools in Nigeria. 200 members of NUT was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain the impact of Nigerian union of teachers on the management of educational crises in secondary schools in Nigeria.
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of encountered by NUT in crises management in secondary schools
Summary
School administration has been adversely affected by lack of knowledge of conflict management. Most administrators handled conflicts by trial and error approach because there were no specific procedures and methods of managing conflicts. In the secondary school system in Nigeria, students were not allowed to participate in decisions affecting them. Most students did not know the importance of a student representative council and they hardly knew how to channel their grievances. In many cases the students just took to the streets to protest against the school authority. The staff members and NUT on the other hand were not excluded from all kinds of conflict. Staff and students in conflict resolution rarely explored the use of dialogue as a resolution technique. Finally the issue of conflict management has reached the point where effective use of relevant strategies should be explored and employed.
Conclusion
The general conditions under which the secondary school teacher work in Nigeria is pathetic and teachers are therefore left with no alternative than to change the situation through industrial action as we are experiencing strike today and tomorrow in Nigeria. No doubt, when two elephants fight, definitely it is the grass that suffers. Incidentally, the grasses are the students, parents, head teacher/management of secondary schools, society, and even the striking teacher: let us all rise and speak with one voice to condemn this treacherous act committed against secondary education by the government because a stitch in time saves nine.
Recommendations
The National Assembly should make a law that will strengthen the positions of professional body in respect of policy formulation in respect of matters within their ambit and professionalism, all political office holders should not be allowed to send their wards outside the country to school but be compelled to send their children to government public schools, all government personnel that is civil servant should have their children schooling in public schools and all members of the public should also patronize public schools. This will re-direct the attention of the government to do what is right and just to the teachers, lift the standard of the public school and build confidence in the people. Also, the administration, control and funding of secondary education should be put under exclusive list with federal government taking total responsibility over its administration. An agency like TETFUND to be named PEFUND that is primary education fund be established and all limited liability company in Nigeria should release two per cent (2%) of their profit to a common purse. This money should be used by federal government to run primary education through the primary boards of the various states that makes up Nigeria.
Reference
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