Exploring the Decision-Making Patterns of Principals in Public and Private Schools in Kwara State: A Comparative Analysis

This paper explored the principal’s pattern of decisionmaking in secondary schools in Kwara State, Nigeria. The study makes use of descriptive design. The respondents consisted of 2,777 teaching staff in the 398 public schools and 7,969 teachers in the 249 private schools in Kwara. A sample size of 338 and 367 teaching staff in the two schools was used as respondents, respectively, using the table of sample size by Krejcie and Morgan (1970). A researcher-designed instrument titled the Principals Decision-Making Patterns of Questionnaire (PDMPQ) was utilized for data collection. It was revealed in the study principals' decision-making patterns (P<.05); there was a considerable difference in the decision-making pattern on instructional supervision ((P<.05); there was a significant difference in decision-making pattern of principals on conflict resolutions (P<.05); and lastly, there was considerable difference in principals' decision-making pattern on disciplinary act (P< 05) in Kwara State. In line with the results, it was recommended that principals of secondary schools should formulate clear instructional supervision decisions regarding the operations of their schools. Also, the principals should formulate effective conflict resolution decisions so as to improve the relationship of school members. Lastly, the principals, as a matter of urgency, make sound decisions on disciplinary measures and ensure that they are placed in conspicuous places for the students and staff to see.