SECURITY CHALLENGES AND PRINCIPALS' MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN NORTH-CENTRAL NIGERIAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Abstract This study analyzed the security issues affecting public secondary schools in North-Central Nigeria, analyzing the effectiveness of security management measures by principals. This research paper attempted to determine the highest prevalence of security threats, evaluation of the management strategies currently used and also explored regional variations of Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa states. The research was a descriptive-correlational survey design that was conducted on 716 participants who comprised of 45 principals, 327 teachers and 344 students who were divided into 45 randomly selected public senior secondary schools. The validated questionnaires served as a means of data collection and Parts of the data were statistically analysed based on descriptive statistics, ANOVA and correlation analysis. The results indicated a secure topography, as the prevalence mean is high of 2.80. Violence (M =3.06) with and kidnapping/abduction (M =3.04) were the most pressing threats, then communal clashes (M =2.93). Regional analysis showed that Nasarawa State had much more security challenges (M = 2.93) compared with other states- Kogi (M = 2.65) and Benue (M = 2.57) (F = 3.689, p = 0.033). On management effectiveness, the principals displayed competence with respect to safety programs (M = 2.71), asset protection, (M= 2.67), and detective programs (M= 2.60), and they also exhibited considerable weaknesses in terms of threat prevention strategies (M= 2.43) and emergency response strategies (M= 2.20). Correlation analysis has revealed that there were important negative relations between effective strategies and related threats with violence and emergency response showing the best relation (r -0.42, p -0.01). This paper finds that North-Central Nigerian schools are faced with systemic security issues that require immediate action and principals have divided ability to respond to security issues. Suggestions would be to have the thorough policies on security, continuous training programs to the administrators of school, sufficient financial support to the security facilities, formal and informal association of securities agencies and communities, and regular security review programs to achieve greater effect on the safety of education.  Keywords: School security, educational management, security strategies, North-Central Nigeria, principals' effectiveness