EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION OF PRINCIPALS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN DELTA CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT OF DELTA STATE: THE ROLE OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICE

The effectiveness of secondary school administration largely depends on the quality of leadership exhibited by school principals and the human resource management practices adopted within the school system. In recent years, concerns have emerged regarding declining educational standards, teacher absenteeism, inadequate staff motivation, poor supervision, and low student academic achievement in many secondary schools across Nigeria. These challenges underscore the need for effective administration by principals through strategic human resource management practices. This position paper examines the role of human resource management practices in enhancing the administrative effectiveness of principals in secondary schools in Delta Central Senatorial District of Delta State. The paper discusses key human resource management practices such as staff recruitment and selection, training and development, performance appraisal, motivation, compensation, staff welfare, communication, and participatory decision-making. The paper argues that effective utilization of these practices enhances teacher commitment, productivity, instructional delivery, and overall school performance. It concludes that principals who effectively apply human resource management practices are more likely to achieve educational goals and recommends continuous professional development, improved welfare packages, and strengthened supervision mechanisms.