2.6.2 Human Relations Theory
People who pioneered studies in human relations theories included (marypackerfollete 1868-1949), (Elton Mayo 1945) and (Dickson 1939); (Lewin, Lippit and white 1938); and (Yaunch 1949). Follote is always regarded as the first great proponent of human relations theory. The central idea in this human relation theory boarders on the fact that the human factor is vital in the achievement of organizational goals. Thus it was assumed that workers will achieve better if their personal welfare was taken into consideration.
(Nwankwo, 1992), the theories relates to human relations brought into administration such concepts as democratic leadership policy making by consultation, delegations of authority decentralization of administration, among others. In other words, it is called human theory of management. This implies that school administrators (principals) should treat their staff (teachers) with human face, and always sort for their welfare. This could generate harmony and sound cooperation among them. When this is achieved among principals, will bring about desirable output especially in the areas of teaching and learning and school records management.
The relevance of this theory to this work lies in the ability of the principals to take cognizance of teachers welfare towards achieving the overall school goals. This means that principal should not emphasis on the school productivity alone but should also emphasis along side the condition of staff thereby bringing in, friendly relationship among staff. When this is achieved by school heads, issue of falsification of data among staff will be a past story in the history of school records management in the school system.
2.7 Review of Empirical Studies
It appears there is a dearth of empirical literature on record keeping and management, especially in school. Most of the authors have only mentioned the records that are necessary in the school system and how those records could be used.
In this section, efforts are made to review some of the few studies that have been done in the area of school records. For example, in a study among nursery school in Ile-Ife, (Fujawonyomi and Afolabi, 1993) discovered that many of them lack written health guidelines and school health records. They therefore concluded that this could pose a great threat to the health of school children.
Also, (Popoola 1997) in his own study discovered that records are poorly kept in Nigerian schools. The reason for this according to him include; poor or lack of training in record keeping among educational personnel, inadequate record keeping materials, as well as inadequate safety arrangement of records. Similarly, (Mazikenu 1960) in a study discovered that under – development of records management in Africa was due to low adoption of information technologies, insufficient qualified personnel, and use of outdated record manuals.
(Meadke 1981), and (McClellan 1976) in their various studies suggested the adoption of integrated records management system in every organization. This according to them would ensure deistic approach to records management with provisions for necessary factor input (Such as money, materials, machines and men).
Also, here and (Mcleod 1997) in another investigation discovered that as level of records generation, maintenance and use of an organization increases, so does its administrative cost. They had earlier discovered if there existed a functional records management programmes, the correlation co-efficient between the administrative cost and the volume of records managed, ought to have been positively low.
In a study of school record in Oyo State, (Popoola 2001) discovered that the records generated in Oyo State secondary schools are: registers, lesson notes, log books, visitor’s book, and diaries, building plans, photographs, circulars, minutes, testimonials, mark sheeys and reports. All of than are also in paper format. School records in Oyo State are also being managed by files management. It was also found out that cabinets, wooden shelves and wooded cupboards are the most prevailing record storage equipment in use in the secondary school. The school does not have enough storage facilities and that there is bad space building in the management of those records storage facilities at the office areas.
Also, the method of protecting records against disasters in the schools are: dusting, boxing, and lockup store. The study also should be the methods of disposing non-records in Oyo State secondary schools are: outright sales, incineration and burying. Popoola therefore felt that methods of records disposition could cause environmental population to the society.
(Ogbonnaya 1994) carried out an appraisal of record keeping practices of principals in Abia state secondary schools. The study sought to determine the administrative practices adopted by secondary school principals in Abia state in the keeping of school records and the problems associated with the keeping of these records. Three research questions and one null hypothesis were formulated to guide the study. The researcher adopted descriptive survey design for the study. The researcher adopted descriptive survey design for the study. Using a questionnaire titled “Record keeping Appraisal questionnaire†data were collected from four hundred secondary schools teachers and forty principals form Abia and umuahia Education Zones of Abia State. Mean scores were used to answer the three research questions while t-test statistics was used to test the null hypothesis formulated for the study. The results, among others show that:
1. Secondary school principals delegated authority for the accurate keeping of some schools administrative records to teachers
2. Principals monitor teachers adherence to instructions on school records
3. Lack of funds, delays in the supply of materials, dishonesty and lack of zeal and interest on the part of teachers delegated to keep records constituted problems in record keeping in Abia State Secondary schools. Ogbonnaya’s work on appraisal of record keeping practices shared relevance to this study. This is because it is part of the objectives of study to ascertain the school records presently kept in secondary schools
