Public-private participants collaboration in education: Synergy for effective public secondary school administration in Rivers State

Abstract

The study examined public-private participants’(PPP) collaboration in education as synergy for effective public secondary school administration in Rivers State. The analytical descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population included 38 public secondary schools in Etche and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas of Rivers State. Samples consisted of 76 corresponding number of principals (50%) and vice-principals (50%) of the schools studied. Proportionate stratified random sampling technique was adopted. Frequency, mean and aggregate mean was used to answer eight (8) research questions while z-test was used to test two (2) null hypotheses at 0.05% level of significance. The subjects of the study responded to a validated 30 – item instrument titled “Public-Private Participants Collaboration Questionnaire” (PPPCPSAQ) designed by the researchers in the modified 4-point rating scale, with a reliability index of 0.82 obtained from the Cronbach alpha interval consistency procedure. Average cut-off point of 2.50 was used as the criterion mean. Findings indicated that financial resources, student personnel resources and instructional process are areas PPP collaborate for effective administration of public secondary schools in Rivers State. Findings among others indicate that public-private participants’ collaboration for effective administration of physical facilities and personnel resources in public secondary schools in Rivers State was inadequate. It was therefore concluded that inadequate mobilization of the private sector collaboration could affect effective public school administration. The study recommended the following; public school administration should be properly informed on the need for PPP collaboration through regular seminars, workshops, symposia and conferences; relevant mechanisms should be established to check corruption and wastes in public schools and data base showing areas of PPP collaboration should be created by government.