Staff Capacity Building in Nigerian Secondary Schools: A Means of Enhancing Teachers’ Job Performance

Abstract

The paper examined staff capacity building in Nigerian secondary schools as a means of enhancing teachers’ job performance. The 21st century is characterized by knowledge-driven environment and strategic skill-dependent economy which require teachers to be continuously equipped with skills for problem solving, self-reliance and career progression in the performance of their (teachers) job. Specifically, the paper considered capacity building concept, capacity building programmes, types of staff development, teachers’ job performance, benefits of teachers’ capacity building, challenges of teachers’ capacity building and possible recommendations towards enhancing teachers’ capacity building among others. Among some of the challenges of teachers’ job performance include the following: poor attitudes, subject-mastery, teaching methodology, classroom environment, relationship with students and parents, lesson preparation and planning, motivation and self-improvement. The following recommendations were made among others: secondary school principals should actively engage teachers in the teaching and learning process; principals should ensure teachers work in synergy with their colleague, principals must work towards identifying teachers’ areas of need as well as making it mandatory for teachers to pursue continuous professional development.