Journal for Studies in Management and Planning ISSN: 2395-0463

Available at Volume 03 Issue 09

http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ August 2017

Time Management Strategies as a Panacea for Principals’

Administrative Effectiveness in Secondary Schools in Enugu
State, Nigeria
Akinfolarin Akinwale Victor
Department of Educational Management and Policy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State,
Nigeria.
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract
This study ascertained the time management standard deviation. The findings of the study
strategies for principals’ administrative revealed that principals’ manage their time
effectiveness in secondary schools in Enugu for administrative effectiveness in secondary
State. Two research questions guided the schools by adopting meetings management
study. The study adopted a descriptive strategies, it also revealed that principals’
survey design. The study was conducted in do not adopt delegation strategies in
Enugu State. The study population managing time for administrative
comprised all the 291 secondary school effectiveness in secondary schools in the
principals’ in Enugu State. Simple random areas of; allowing assistants to make
sampling technique was used to sample146 decisions regarding assigned tasks, having
principals for the study. The instrument used complete faith in staff ability when
for data collection was a well-structured 15 delegating tasks, delegating to staff
items researcher developed instrument according to their abilities, and placing a
titled; Time Management Strategies for limit for task completion when delegated
Principals’ Administrative Effectiveness among others. The study concluded among
Questionnaire (TMSPAEQ). The instrument others that principals’ do not adopt
was structured on a four rating scale of delegation strategies in managing time for
Strongly Agree (SA), Agree (A), Disagree administrative effectiveness in secondary
(D) and Strongly Disagree (SD) weighted 4, schools in Enugu State. Based on the
3, 2 and 1 respectively. The face validation findings, it was recommended that capacity
of the instrument was established by building on effective time management
subjecting it to criticism by colleagues, should be considered by State Ministry of
experts and authorities in the field of Education by organizing workshops,
inquiry. The cronbach alpha was used to seminars and conferences on time
determine the reliability of the instrument. management strategies for a successful school
Data were analyzed using mean and administration among others.

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 Journal for Studies in Management and Planning ISSN: 2395-0463
Available at Volume 03 Issue 09
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ August 2017

Keywords: time, management strategies, scarce resource, and principals must make
principals’, administrative effectiveness, decisions about how to allocate their time
secondary schools among competing demands. Time-use
decisions are important for effective
Introduction leadership, as evidenced by the relationship
between principal time use and school
Timely discharge of administrative tasks and
outcomes (Grissom, Loeb, & Master, 2012).
responsibilities is of great concern to
Effective management of time requires good
administrators and managers in various
strategies and planning if goals must be
sectors of the economy including the
achieved. Managers should adopt time
education sector. Similarly, Hallinger and
management strategies by setting goals that
Murphy (2013) pointed out that finding time
are achievable, prioritizing tasks, delegating
to perform multifarious tasks is one of the
tasks to subordinates, avoiding unnecessary
greatest challenges of leadership for school
interruptions and time wasting activities,
improvement in the principals’ job. The
maintaining focus on tasks, and leading by
school system like every other enterprise has
example. However, school administrators
set goals and objectives which should be
spend more time on meetings and other
actualized at a specified period. At the
school activities yet, finds it difficult to
secondary level of education, the principal is
complete tasks at the appropriate time.
the chief executive officer of the school who
Setting target for meetings, ensuring timely
is responsible for effective management of
converge of scheme of work, delegation of
school resources for the actualization of
duties to teachers and students scheduling
stated goal and objectives. Time is a
extra-curricular activities among others are
valuable and irreversible abstract resource
characteristics of time management of
available for human progression. Whatever
school leaders. Mullins (2005) pointed out
achievements and biological growth of man
that whatever, the attributes or qualities of
may be, they are achieved with time. It is
successful managers are, or the qualities of
imperative to every individual, organization
subordinate staff are, one essential
and the society at large thus, must be
underlying criterion is the effective use of
effectively managed.
time. If school leader is incompetent in
Claessens, Van Eerde, Rute, and Roes effective use of time, all the administrative
(2007) defined time management as and managerial efforts for school
“behaviour that aims at achieving an improvement will be a waste. Principals’
effective use of time while performing appropriate management of time in
certain goal-directed activities’. Time is a secondary schools enhances teachers’

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 Journal for Studies in Management and Planning ISSN: 2395-0463
Available at Volume 03 Issue 09
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ August 2017

coverage of scheme of work which multiple classes each day is an essential

invariably improve students’ academic short-term time management strategy. Time
performance. However, several time is a valuable asset that should be held in
management strategies promote teaching high esteem in order to minimize waste in
and learning. These strategies according to any organization. It requires proper
Macan cited in Grissom, Loel and Mitani utilization and management if stated goals
(2013), are settings goals and priorities, must be fully achieved. School
mechanics (that is making lists and administrators should also ensure
scheduling), and preference for organization. appropriate delegation of duties to
Similarly, Sabelis (2001) opined that one subordinates and manage their meeting time
can make use of time by applying practices for a successful administration.
such as keeping time logs, setting immediate
Heads can delegate duties to their
and long-standing goals, prioritizing
subordinates by:
responsibilities, constructing to-do lists and
arrangement and organizing one’s 1. Allowing assistants to make
workspace. decisions regarding assigned tasks
2. Delegating authority and
Graig and Steven (2014) stated that time
responsibility to the right person
management practices include: short-term
3. Providing necessary authority,
and long-term goals, determining priority
resources and support to staff
and scheduling of activities and minimizing
4. Having complete faith in staff ability
time wasters. Long-term goals is concerned
when delegating duties and
with handling every day’s jobs over longer
5. Giving time to staff to brief you
time perspective by keeping follow-up of
about their assigned tasks among
significant dates and setting objectives (Alay
others.
& Kocak cited in Shazia & Muhammad,
2015). On the other hand, short-term goal is
Heads can adopt the following strategies in
an instructional time management practice
managing meetings time by:
surrounded by daily or weekly time structure
and covers the activities such as setting 1. Communicating meeting agenda one
objectives at the commencement of the day, day prior to meeting
planning and prioritizing daily behaviours 2. Setting clear time limits for meetings
and creation of work contents (Yilmaz, and tasks
Yoncalik & Bekta, 2006). Principals’ 3. Setting time to begin and end
encouragement of regular teachers’ meetings and stick to them
preparation of lesson plans and notes for

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 Journal for Studies in Management and Planning ISSN: 2395-0463
Available at Volume 03 Issue 09
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ August 2017

4. Dealing effectively with improvement, curriculum improvement,

interruptions effective resources management,
5. Summarizing major points at the end monitoring, appropriate delegation of tasks,
of meeting and timely discharge of duties and constant
6. Following-up on actions to be taken meeting of targets. The smooth running and
after meeting. uninterrupted activities of any organization
require high level of administrative skills of
Principals with good time management the leader. Most school administrators face
strategies allocate more time in ensuring difficulties in meeting deadlines and
quality instructional delivery in their curriculum targets. The principal is the chief
schools. Timely communication of administrator of the secondary level of
instructional objectives to both teachers and education who should always discharge his
students will help minimize time wastage. or her duties in a timely manner for overall
There must be a good communication effective administration. Effective time
mechanism among teachers’, students’ and management skill is need for administrative
school administrators’ within and outside effectiveness.
the school for goals achievement at all levels
of education (Akinfolarin & Rufai, 2017). Statement of the Problem
To have effective administration, school
administrators’ must communicate school Principal has the duty as the school leader to
goals in a timely manner to staff and ensure quality and timely delivery of
students. This will depend on principals’ educational services. The successful
ability to manage time and other resources realization of school goals depends on
to ensure administrative effectiveness. principal ability to manage school time and
other limited resources. However, personal
Administrative effectiveness involves efforts observation of the researcher revealed cases
and technical skills directed towards of inadequate coverage of scheme of work
organizational tasks leading to goals and inability to meet school targets which
achievement. Similarly, Akomolafe (2012) may be due to principals and teachers time
defined administrative effectiveness as the waste during meetings, irrelevant assembly
positive response to administrative efforts activities, irregular break time and poor
and actions with the intention to accomplish delegation strategies among others in Enugu
stated goal. Administrative effectiveness can State. Premised on this problem that the
be measured trough school administrators study aimed at determining time
extent of accountability, school performance management strategies for principals’

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 Journal for Studies in Management and Planning ISSN: 2395-0463
Available at Volume 03 Issue 09
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ August 2017

administrative effectiveness in secondary Method

schools in Enugu State.
The study adopted a descriptive survey
research design which sought to collect data
on the opinions of the participants. The
Purpose of the Study
study was conducted in Enugu State. The
The main purpose of this study is to study population comprised all the 291
determine time management strategies for secondary school principals’ in Enugu State.
principals’ administrative effectiveness in Simple random sampling technique was
secondary schools in Enugu State. used to sample146 principals for the study.
The instrument used for data collection was
Specifically, this study sought to a well-structured 15 items researcher
determine: developed instrument titled;’ Time
1. Principals’ meetings management Management Strategies for Principals
strategies in managing time for Administrative Effectiveness Questionnaire
administrative effectiveness in (TMSPAEQ). The instrument was structured
secondary schools in Enugu State. on a four rating scale of Strongly Agree
2. Principals’ delegation strategies in (SA), Agree (A), Disagree (D) and Strongly
managing time for administrative Disagree (SD) weighted 4, 3, 2 and 1
effectiveness in secondary schools in respectively. The face validation of the
Enugu State. instrument was established by subjecting the
instrument to criticism by colleagues,
Research Questions experts and authorities in the field of
inquiry. The suggestions and inputs of the
The following research questions guided the experts were reflected on the final draft of
study. the instrument. The cronbach alpha was
used to determine the reliability of the
1. What are principals’ meetings
instrument. Copies of the questionnaire were
management strategies in managing
distributed by the researcher together with
time for administrative effectiveness
six research assistants who were briefed on
in secondary schools in Enugu State?
how approach the respondents. Data were
2. What are principals’ delegation
analyzed using mean and standard deviation.
strategies in managing time for
The mean response were adjudged on the
administrative effectiveness in
following basis of any mean score of 2.50 or
secondary schools in Enugu State?
above is taken to indicate agreement while

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 Journal for Studies in Management and Planning ISSN: 2395-0463
Available at Volume 03 Issue 09
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ August 2017

any mean score that falls below 2.50 is taken as disagreement.

Results
Research Question 1: What are principals’ meetings management strategies in managing time
for administrative effectiveness in secondary schools in Enugu State?

Table 1: Mean scores and standard deviation ratings of principals’ meetings management
strategies in managing time for administrative effectiveness in secondary schools.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

S/N Items X SD Decision

1. Communicating meeting agenda one day prior 2.63 1.22 Agree

2. Setting clear time limits for meetings and tasks 3.02 0.34 Agree

3. Setting time to begin and end meetings and stick to them 2.88 0.99 Agree

4. Dealing effectively with interruptions during meeting 2.48 1.47 Disagree

5. Following-up on actions to be taken after meeting 3.50 0.66 Agree

6. Summarization of major points at the end of meeting 2.31 0.23 Disagree

7. Placing a time limit on unscheduled meetings/visitors 2.76 0.85 Agree

Grand Mean and Standard Deviation 2.80 0.82 Agree

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Items 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 in table 1 is above the mean score of 2.80 which is above the
mean score of 2.50 which indicate that accepted mean score of 2.50 indicates
respondents’ agreed with the statements agreement in principals’ meetings
while items 4 and 6 mean scores are below management strategies in managing time for
2.50 which indicate that respondents’ administrative effectiveness in secondary
disagreed with the statements. The grand schools in Enugu State.

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 Journal for Studies in Management and Planning ISSN: 2395-0463
Available at Volume 03 Issue 09
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ August 2017

Research Question 2: What are principals’ delegation strategies in managing time for
administrative effectiveness in secondary schools in Enugu State?

Table 2: Mean scores and standard deviation ratings of principals’ delegation strategies in
managing time for administrative effectiveness in secondary schools

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

S/N Items X SD Decision

8. Allowing assistants to make decisions regarding assigned tasks 2.14 0.33 Disagree

9. Delegating authority and responsibility to the right person 2.55 0.76 Agree

10. Providing necessary authority, resources and support to staff 2.52 0.82 Agree

11. Having complete faith in staff ability when delegating duties 2.12 1.16 Disagree

12. Giving time to staff to brief you about their assigned task 2.53 0.39 Agree

13. Delegating to staff according to their abilities 2.28 0.45 Disagree

14. Following up on the work delegated to staff 2.61 1.80 Agree

15. Placing a limit for task completion when delegated 2.03 0.77 Disagree

Grand Mean and Standard Deviation 2.35 0.81 Disagree

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Items 9, 10, 12 and 14 in table 1 is above the mean score of 2.35 which is below the
mean score of 2.50 which indicate that accepted mean score of 2.50 indicates
respondents’ agreed with the statements disagreement in principals’ delegation
while items 8, 11, 13 and 15 mean scores are strategies in managing time for
below 2.50 which indicate that respondents’ administrative effectiveness in secondary
disagreed with the statements. The grand schools in Enugu State.

Discussion of Findings Findings in table 1 indicate that respondents’

agreed with items 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 which
revealed that principals’ manage their time

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 Journal for Studies in Management and Planning ISSN: 2395-0463
Available at Volume 03 Issue 09
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ August 2017

for administrative effectiveness in secondary responsibility to the right person, providing

schools by adopting meetings management necessary authority, resources and support to
strategies in the areas of; communicating staff, giving time to staff to brief you about
meeting agenda one day prior, setting clear their assigned tasks, and following up on the
time limits for meetings and tasks, setting work delegated to staff. The findings of this
time to begin and end meetings and stick to study further showed that respondents’
them. The result also showed that disagreed with items 8, 11, 13, and 15 which
respondents’ disagreed with items 4 and 6 revealed that principals’ do not adopt
which revealed that principals’ do not delegation strategies in managing time for
manage their time for administrative administrative effectiveness in secondary
effectiveness in secondary schools by not schools in the areas of; allowing assistants to
adopting meetings management strategies in make decisions regarding assigned tasks,
the areas of; dealing effectively with having complete faith in staff ability when
interruptions during meeting and delegating tasks, delegating to staff
summarizing major points at the end of according to their abilities, and placing a
meeting. However, the grand mean score of limit for task completion when delegated.
2.80 which is above the accepted mean score However, the grand mean score of 2.35
of 2.50 revealed that principals’ adopt which is below the accepted mean score of
meetings management strategies in 2.50 revealed that principals’ do not adopt
managing time for administrative delegation strategies in managing time for
effectiveness in secondary schools in Enugu administrative effectiveness in secondary
State. This finding is in line with Igbal, schools in Enugu State. This contradicts
Umar, Naseer and Allah (2015) findings that Igbal et al (2015) findings that school
school principals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa principals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa manage
manage their time effectively through their time well through delegation practices
meetings management strategies. The which got the total mean value of 3.77.
findings have also been reported in similar Some school heads avoid delegating certain
studies carried out by Tracy (2014) and duties to their assistants due to the fear of
Ugwulashi (2011). their jobs been overtaken by subordinates
which may amount to delay tasks
Respondents’ agreed with items 9, 10, 12
completion. School principals must
and 14 in table 2 which revealed that
understand that they are the chief
principals’ adopt delegation strategies in
administrator of their various schools thus,
managing time for administrative
should ensure effective and efficient school
effectiveness in secondary schools in Enugu
administration through appropriate
State by delegating authority and

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 Journal for Studies in Management and Planning ISSN: 2395-0463
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http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ August 2017

delegation of administrative and academic among others to help ensure

tasks to staff and students in order to effective school administration.
minimize time wastage. Time management
is a crucial aspect of any administration, if 2. Delegation strategies in managing
properly managed, will help to ensure time in the areas of; allowing
prompt goals actualization. Manager and assistants to make decisions
administrators must acquire competencies in regarding assigned tasks, having
utilizing the available time to achieve complete faith in staff ability when
administrative success. delegating tasks, delegating tasks to
staff according to their abilities, and
Conclusion placing a limit for task completion
when delegated should be considered
Based on the findings of the study, it was by school administrators for
concluded that: administrative effectiveness in
secondary schools.
1. Principals’ adopt meetings
management strategies in managing 3. Capacity building on effective time
time for administrative effectiveness management should be considered
in secondary schools in Enugu State. by State Ministry of Education by
organizing workshops, seminars and
2. Principals’ do not adopt delegation conferences on time management
strategies in managing time for strategies for a successful school
administrative effectiveness in administration.
secondary schools in Enugu State.

Recommendations References
[1] Akinfolarin, A. V. & Rufai, R. B.
The following recommendations were made
(2017). Extent of information and
premised on the findings:
communication technology (ICT) utilization
1. School leaders should adopt for students’ learning in tertiary institutions
meetings management strategies in in Ondo State, Nigeria. International
managing time in the areas of; Journal of Advance Research and
dealing effectively with interruptions Innovative Ideas in Education, 3(3), 2369-
during meeting and summarizing 2376.
major points at the end of meeting [2] Akomolafe, C.O.(2012). A
comparative study of principals’

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 Journal for Studies in Management and Planning ISSN: 2395-0463
Available at Volume 03 Issue 09
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ August 2017

administrative effectiveness in public and [9] Baltimore, M.D. (2012).Longitudinal

private secondary schools in ekiti state, evidence from observations of principals.
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