INTRODUCTION
This study ascertained the principals’ provision of incentive for secondary schools' improvement
in Oyo State. Two research questions guided the study and two null hypotheses were tested. The
descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was
8,701 which comprised 969 principals and 7,732 teachers in public secondary school principals
in Oyo State. Proportionate Stratified sampling technique was used to draw 871 respondents
made up of 97 principals and 774 teachers. Two versions of a 19 item researchers' developed
instrument titled ‘‘Principals’ Incentive Practices for Schools' Improvement Questionnaire
(PIPSIQI)’’ and ‘‘Principals’ Incentives Practices for Schools Improvement Questionnaire
(PIPSIQII)’’ were used for data collection. Mean rates and standard deviation were used to
answer the research questions, while t-test was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of
significance. The findings of the study revealed among others that principals and teachers
agreed that involving staff in decision making process to enhance their commitment in
implementing the instructional programme, prompt attention to teachers on-the-job problems,
praising teachers for excellent performance, assigning responsibility with commensurate
authority to give teachers opportunity to demonstrate their skills and maintaining mutual
relationship among others are teachers' incentive practices provided by secondary school
principals in Oyo State. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that there is
need for State Ministry of Education to regularly organize interactive workshops that include
both principals and teachers for working out modalities for improvement on provision of
incentives for teachers. Conclusions were drawn and other recommendations were made.
