CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN DELTA STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

Conflict is inevitable in any given organization including the school system where there is human interaction. This study examined principals' application of conflict management strategies for effective administration of public secondary schools in Delta state, Nigeria. The descriptive survey research was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised of all principals in the public secondary schools in Delta state. A sample of the principals was randomly selected for the study through a stratified random sampling technique. Three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. A research instrument titled "principals conflict management strategy Questionnaire" (PCMSQ) was adopted for data collection. The instrument was validated by experts and Cronbach Alpha was used to determine the reliability coefficients of0.84, which was reliable. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation was used to answer the research questions which the Z-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0. 05 levels of significances. The findings of the study revealed among others that compromising, dominating and integrating conflict management strategies are used by principals for effective administration of public secondary schools in Delta state. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that, the state government should organize regularly conferences, workshops and seminars to update secondary school principals' skills and knowledge in applying the various conflict management strategies.