Information and Communication Technology Integration in School Security Management and Principals’ Job Performance in Private Secondary Schools in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT:

This study determined the extent to which ICT integration in school security management predicts principals’ job performance in private secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. However, from the literature reviewed so far it was observed that the relationship between ICT integration in school security management and principals’ job performance has not satisfactorily given adequate attention in the context of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), entry metal detectors, social net watchers, panic buttons and school bus tracking system in private secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. This study aimed to bridge this gap by examining the relationship between these variables. A correlational research design was adopted while the population consists of all 476 principals of the private secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State. Krejcie and Morgan Table was used to determine the sample size of 214, while purposive sampling was used to sample only schools that have the ICT facilities under study. Two research instruments were used to elicit data for the study. Regression analysis was used to answer research questions and to test all the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Findings of the study show that integration of ClosedCircuit Television (CCTV), entry metal detectors, social net watcher and panic buttons had low positive but no significant predictive influence on principals’ job performance in private secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State. The result also indicated that integration of school bus tracking have moderate positive and significant predictive influence on principals’ job performance in private secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State. Based on the findings, it was concluded that limited ICT security integration in private secondary schools in Akwa Ibom state represents a significant vulnerability, increasing risk to students and staff. Therefore, urgent prioritization of ICT integration is crucial. It was recommended among others, that private school administrators in collaboration with parents should invest in ICT tools in order to ward off potential threats, and that public schools in collaboration with the government should adopt and invest in ICT as a matter of urgency.

Keywords: Information and Communication Technology (ICT), School Security Management, CCTV, Principals’ Job Performance and Private secondary schools