Management by Objectives and the Performance of Private Secondary Schools: Evidence from Bida Metropolis, Niger State

Abstract

This study examined the effect of Management by Objectives (MBO) on the performance of registered private secondary schools in Bida, Niger State. The study adopted a survey research design with a population of 1,155 staff members from 77 registered private secondary schools in Bida metropolis. A sample size of 288 respondents was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan sampling formula. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that MBO jointly explained (R² = 0.645; Adjusted R = 0.641), and ANOVA (F = 147.458, p = 0.000 < 0.05). Broadly the findings indicates that MBO have a positive significant effect on the performance of private schools in Bida. In specifics, the coefficient of goal setting (β = 0.579, t = 17.888, p = 0.000 < 0.05) and staff participation in decision-making (β = 0.191, t = 3.372, p = 0.000 < 0.05) demonstrates a positive and significant effect on schools’ performance. In contrast, monitoring and evaluation recorded a negative but significant effect on schools’ performance (β = −0.120, t = −1.985, p = 0.048 < 0.05). The study recommends that school administrators/proprietors should strengthen goal-setting practices, staff participation in decision making and ensures constructive monitoring and evaluation that promote appraisal objectivity, fairness and transparency to improve academic performance..