ETHICAL ISSUES IN NIGERIAN EDUCATION: INFLUENCE ON EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN DELTA STATE

Abstract

This study focused on ethical issues in Nigerian education and its influence on effective management of Colleges of Education in Delta State. The study employed the descriptive survey research design. Four research questions guided the study . The proportio nate random sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 449 academic staff; selected out of a total population of 50% of 898 academic staff within three Colleges of Education in Delta S t a t e. A q u e s t i o n n a i r e t i tle d : “ E t h i c al I s s u e s a n d I n flu e n c e on Effective Management Questionnaire” (EIIEMQ), which contained 32 items, designed on a 4 point scale and arranged into 4 clusters, was used as instrument to collect data for this study. The instrument was validated by three experts from Department of Edu cational Management and Policy; and one expert from Department of Educational Foundations (Measurement and Evaluation Unit) from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, in order to establish the face and content validity in line with the purpose of the study. Reliability of the instrument was determined by conducting a pilot - test selecting 10 a c a d e m i c s t a f f f r o m t w o C ol le g e s o f E d u c a t io n i n A n a m b r a S t a t e a n d t h e r e a f t e r u s e d t h e C r o n b a c h Alp h a s t a t i s t ic s t o c o m p u t e s c o r e s w h i c h yielded a coefficient (r) value of 0.80 in order to determine the stability and dependability of the research instrument. Data collated were equal ly analyzed using mean score at 2.50 rating in order to answer all the research questions. Consequently, from the findings of the study which identified ethical issues that influenced the management of colleges of education in Delta State, its c a u s e s, c o n s e q u e n c e s a n d s olu ti o n s and r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s w e r e p r o f f e r e d. A m o n g s u c h r e c o m m e n d a t io n s i n clu d e d : g o v e r n m e n t i n clu d i n g e d u c a t io n stakeholders such as: the regulatory agency for COEs – NC E, administrative heads should ensure that various types of unethical pr actices are curtailed to the barest minimum in the institutions. Laws, regulations and sanctions should s t r i c tly b e a d h e r e d t o i n p u r s u a n t o f t h i s c o u r s e.; a n d t h a t g o v e r n m e n t including the private sector should support COEs through adequate budgets, funds a n d f i n a n c i al a s si s t a n c e f o r i n f r a s t r u c t u r al d e v elo p m e n t, f a c ili ti e s provision and staff continuous motivation as means of curtailing unethical practices in the institutions.