Influence of Administrative Effectiveness on the Management of Students’ Behavioural Problems in Isiala-Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria.

This study investigated the influence of administrative effectiveness on the management of students' behavioral problems in secondary schools within Isiala-Ngwa Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia State, Nigeria. Employing a survey research design, 300 teachers were selected using a multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected using an adapted instrument, the Questionnaire on Principals' Administrative Effectiveness and Students' School Behavioral Problems (QPASBP), and analyzed using percentages, relative strength index (RSI), and multiple regression. The findings revealed a 27.2% prevalence rate of behavioral problems among students, with disruption/vandalization of school properties (RSI = 0.512), thuggery (RSI = 0.481), and lateness to school (RSI = 0.480) being the most prevalent issues. Principals demonstrated high administrative effectiveness in instructional management, internal relations, and students' performance, each with an RSI of 0.724. Furthermore, the study found a significant combined predictive ability of principals' administrative effectiveness on the management of students' behavioral problems (R² = 0.034; F = 1.681, p < 0.05). The study concludes that the relatively low incidence of behavioral problems among students can be attributed to the effective administrative practices of secondary school principals in Abia State. These findings underscore the importance of administrative effectiveness in managing student behavior and highlight areas where principals excel and can further improve.