Influence of Principal’s Experience and Leadership Style on Senior Secondary School Student’s Academic Performance in Katsina Zonal Education Quality Assurance, Katsina State, Nigeria

This study examined how Katsina State Zonal Education Quality Assurance principals' leadership styles affect student achievement. The study found that principals must involve all stakeholders in decision-making and school administration and that their leadership style positively affects SSCE student achievement. Teachers, students, and subordinates must make decisions to increase performance. Democratic leadership styles got a high response, suggesting they may outperform authoritarian leadership approaches if applied effectively. SSCE test success is not due to one leadership style. Principals must use these two leadership styles into their school management to achieve great results. Based on these findings, the recommend that the state education ministries should organise programmes to educate principals on effective leadership styles for better results. More so, to improve teacher working conditions and student academic performance, principals should adopt democratic leadership styles that involve all members of the school community in decision-making. Furthermore, school principals should use transformational leadership, which involves individuals investing in decisions they have a say in. finally, regular discussions between principals, teachers, and students should address students' academic weaknesses.