PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOR: A PANACEA FOR EFFECTIVE CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTATION IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KWALI AREA COUNCIL, ABUJA

The paper focused on the principal's leadership behavior as a tool for effective curriculum implementation in Senior Secondary schools in Kwali Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria. A survey research design was utilized, and two research questions were formulated for the study. The study's population consisted of 208 teachers from eight public senior secondary schools in Kwali Area Council, Abuja (FCT Secondary Education Board, 2023). The sample for the study included 100 teachers from public senior secondary schools in Kwali Area Council, FCT, Abuja. The instrument was validated by experts in the Department of Educational Management at the University of Abuja. The instrument's reliability was assessed through a pilot study using the test-retest method for data collection, with Cronbach's alpha statistics used for data analysis, resulting in a reliability coefficient index of 0.66. Mean statistics were employed to analyze the research questions. The study's findings indicated that principal leadership behavior enhances curriculum implementation, and principals provide opportunities for in-service training for teachers to enhance academic performance in curriculum implementation in senior secondary schools in Kwali Area Council, Abuja. Based on the study findings, the researcher recommended that the Ministry of Education, through the Quality Assurance Department, should continue updating principals' knowledge on leadership behavior and implement training and re-training programs on curriculum implementation for both principals and teachers to enhance their academic delivery.