© 2020 Minda Masagi Press owned by ASPENSI in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia ISSN 2621-1653 (print), ISSN 2621-3621 (online), and www.journals.mindamas.com/index.php/honai 1 HONAI: International Journal for Educational, Social, Political & Cultural Studies, Volume 3(1), May 2020 ABDULGANIYU ADEBAYO TIJANI Participatory Decision Making: An Effective Tool for School Effectiveness in Kwara State, Nigeria ABSTRACT: Decision making is one of the most important activities, in which school administrators engage in daily. The success or otherwise of a school is critically linked to types of decisions make at various point in the school. The complexity of todays’ secondary school system, and tremendous changed in school environment, suggests a change in management style too from the traditional approaches, which are autocratic and bureaucratic in nature. It is on this that, the study examined one of the modern management styles – participatory leadership style – on school effectiveness in Kwara State, Nigeria. Concepts of decision making and participatory decision making in education were reviewed by using qualitative approach and descriptive analysis. Principals’ administrative role in decision making; the need for teachers’ participation and parental involvement in school decision making process; and school effectiveness in Kwara State were also examined. The paper, further, suggested among others that to achieve the educational goals and objectives, the school principal should develop managerial skills that will enhance effective participation of other school stakeholders. Involving all the stakeholders of the school in decision making will enable the principal to see other stakeholders as resources from which he/she can tap their knowledge and experience to bring about school effectiveness. KEY WORDS: Participatory Decision Making; Effective Tool; School Effectiveness; Kwara State in Nigeria. About the Author: Abdulganiyu Adebayo Tijani, Ph.D. is a Lecturer at the Department of Educational Management, Faculty of Education UNILORIN (University of Ilorin) in Ilorin, Nigeria. For academic interests, the Author is able to be contacted via e-mail address at: tijani.abdulganiyu.adebayo@gmail.com Suggested Citation: Tijani, Abdulganiyu Adebayo. (2020). “Participatory Decision Making: An Effective Tool for School Effectiveness in Kwara State, Nigeria” in HONAI: International Journal for Educational, Social, Political & Cultural Studies, Volume 3(1), May, pp.1-14. Bandung, Indonesia: Minda Masagi Press owned by ASPENSI, with ISSN 2621-1653 (print) and ISSN 2621-3621 (online). Article Timeline: Accepted (January 25, 2020); Revised (March 24, 2020); and Published (May 30, 2020). INTRODUCTION Decisions are made continuously and continually by school administrators. Thus, decision making in school is imperative and vital to its development. School administrator, that takes decision making with levity, is likely to work in oblivion; hence, such school goals, policies, profitability, and growth are likely to be jeopardized. In other words, the success or otherwise of a school goal is critically linked to effective decision. Thus, the art and science of decision making are frequently associated with managerial expertise. Therefore, the school administrator must develop a skill to enhance his/her decision making in the school (Olayiwola, 1991; Michael & Kayode, 2014; and Tijani, 2020).