Record Management Practices and Administrative Efficiency in Secondary Schools in Rivers State

This study investigates the relationship between record management practices and administrative efficiency in public secondary schools in Rivers State, South South Nigeria. Effective school records management, encompassing student academic records, staff files, financial documents, and school registers, is a foundational administrative function that supports decision-making, accountability, and institutional continuity. The study employs a descriptive survey design, targeting 240 school administrators, vice principals academic, and bursars from schools in Port Harcourt Municipal, Obio-Akpor, and Eleme local government areas. Data were collected using a records management practice questionnaire and an administrative efficiency index, both validated by educational administration experts. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation were applied. The study draws on the Administrative Theory of Gulick and Urwick and Records Management Standards from the International Records Management Trust. It examines the availability of records management policies, staff training, storage infrastructure, and digital records systems as predictors of administrative efficiency. Findings are anticipated to show that schools with systematic and technology-aided records management demonstrate significantly higher administrative efficiency scores. The study also assesses the impact of digital transition readiness on current practice quality. Recommendations target the Rivers State Secondary Education Management Board on deploying standardised digital records management systems, training school administrators, and establishing minimum records management standards for secondary schools. Keywords: record management, administrative efficiency, secondary schools, Rivers State, school administration