Bienose Benjamin IKWUENOBE

This study examined the record management practices and challenges in public secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State.Seven research questions was raised to guide this study. The population for this research consists of all the principals in the 13 public senior secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State.The 13 principal will be automatically adopted as the sample population given the fact that it is researchable. No sampling technique is used to select the 13 principals in the 13 public senior secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The analysis of the data produced the following findings That the predominant record management practices in Egor LGA secondary schools are generally high, leaning toward modern and organized approache that the challenges in managing school records are generally high and require strategic attention, especially in areas of staff training and infrastructure development.Urban schools appear to have an advantage in terms of digital access and support, while rural schools continue to struggle with staffing and logistical issues, the following recommendations are offered:There should be a clear, LGA- wide records management policy for all schools that standardizes file classification, indexing, retention and disposal schedules, privacy rules, and access controls, with principals held accountable for compliance.There should be continuous capacity building for records officers and administrative staff, including practical training on basic records lifecycle, digital filing, data protection, and use of simple database or spreadsheet tools.There should be phased digitization of core records such as admission, attendance, assessment, transfers, and staff records, with secure
backups, off-site storage, and a routine for verifying data quality.