Michael Omolayo, permanent secretary of the Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission, has made a case for public secondary school principals in the state to possess greater administrative proficiency.
Omolayo advised the secondary school principals in Ekiti to prioritise competence training during a meeting, claiming that doing so would enhance both school operations and student performance.
He asserts that principals function as the institution's chief executive officer and are in control of all financial matters at schools.
He learned that not all principal officers are equally skilled at running schools. Some principals inadequately manage school operations because they don't engage their vice principals and bursars before making important administrative decisions.
“Management decisions should be treated in files and approval issued appropriately before carrying out any expenditure in schools and verbal approval is not acceptable”.
He clarified that all expenditures handled by the bursars through a procurement system and directed by the public service standards require the Principal’s written consent.
In his opinion, school administrators, such as principals, vice principals, bursars, and others, need training.
Mr Babatunde Adesola, Permanent Secretary of the Bureau of Central Internal Audit (CIA), echoed these sentiments, reminding principals of their authority and urging them to coordinate all school activities, stressing the importance of clearly outlining responsibilities and assigning them to specific individuals.
He urged principals to set a good example and instructed bursars to record all funds disbursed accurately.
The Tutor General for Ekiti Central, Martins Ilori, gave a speech in which he outlined some of the responsibilities of principals. Among these were maintaining an accurate accounting system and ensuring the school’s funds and other valuables were kept secure.
Victor Amele, president of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) in Ekiti State, responded, “as leaders, we should be patient and careful in handling school issues, I promise on behalf of others to be more alive to our responsibilities and to reciprocate government good gesture.”