INFLUENCE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE ON PRINCIPALS’ DECISION MAKING SKILLS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF BENUE STATE NIGERIA

The study examined the influence of emotional intelligence on principals’ decision making skills in the management of public senior secondary schools in Benue State. The population of the study consisted 338 principals and 7548 teachers, drawn from 338 senior secondary schools in Benue State. The sample of the study is made up of 135 principals and 754 teachers drawn from 338 public senior secondary schools in Benue State. The study used two instruments, namely: Principals’ Emotional Intelligence Test and Teachers’ Questionnaire on the Influence of Principals’ Decision Making Skills in the Management of Public Senior Secondary Schools. Two research questions and one hypothesis were generated to guide the study. Mean and simple percentages were used to answer the research questions while the hypothesis was tested using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The findings revealed that, there is a significant relationship between emotional intelligence and principals’ decision making skills in public senior secondary schools in Benue State. It was recommended that, there should be Emotional Intelligence test for teachers before their promotion to the position of principal. In addition, the Benue State Ministry of Education should organize workshops, seminars and conferences for principals and teachers for the purpose of training them to acquire the relevant competencies that will improve the level of their emotional intelligence.