ABSTRACT

The study examined the extent principals’ adoption of transformational leadership correlates effective personnel management in public secondary schools in South East, Nigeria. Eight research questions were asked and eight hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study adoptedcorrelationalresearch design which involved the simple and multiple linear methods. The population ofthe study is made up of 19,589 teachers from 1,298 public senior secondary schools in the five states in South East, Nigeria. A sample size of392 school teachersfrom (392) schools were usedforthis study. The sample was drawn using multistage approach involving purposive, Taro Yamen, cluster, proportionate stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Two sets ofstructured questionnaires titled: Principals’ Use of Transformational Leadership Questionnaire (PUTLQ) and Effective Personnel Management Questionnaire (EPMQ) were usedfor the study. The instruments were validated byfive experts: threefrom Educational Management and two from Measurement and Evaluation; all from Michael Okpara University oj Agriculture Umudike. The reliabilities ofthe instruments were established using Cronbach alpha methodforthe internal consistency ofitems in the clusters. Reliability indices ofO. 72 and 0.89 were obtainedfor PUTLQ and EPMQ respectively. Pearson's r statistics was used to answer research questions 1-7, but research question 8 was answered using multiple linear correlation statistic. Hypotheses 1-7 were tested using converted t-test significance ofsimple linear correlation statistic also called t-test of correlation while hypothesis 8 was tested using One Way ANOVA F-test (F-ratio) associated with multiple linear correlation at 0.05 level ofsignificance. Results of the analysis revealed on the overall that; there is a veiy high significant relationship on the extent principals ’ adopt transformational leadership (individualized consideration, intellectual stimulation, inspirational motivation, idealized influence, setting directions, developing people & redesigning the organization) and effective personnel management in public secondary schools in South East, Nigeria. Based on thefindings, the researcher recommendedamong otheis that, schoolprincipals should inspire staffand students to try harder by personally thanking them (through thank you cards or texts and any other meansfor ajob well done) and should always speak in positive terms. It was concluded that high extent of transformational relationship adopted by principals will ensure effective personnel management in public secondary schools in South East, Nigeria.