THE INFLUENCE OF ETHICAL VALUES ON PRINCIPALS' CONFLICT RESOLUTION STRATEGIES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Abstract

Conflicts are inevitable in secondary schools due to the complex interactions between teachers, students, parents, and administrators. Principals, as institutional leaders, play a crucial role in ensuring that such conflicts are resolved in ways that promote fairness, trust, and harmony. This paper examines the influence of ethical values on principals’ conflict resolution strategies in secondary schools. It highlights the role of ethical leadership, transparency, fairness, emotional intelligence, and restorative practices in shaping effective conflict management approaches. The review of literature suggests that principals who integrate ethical values into their leadership are more likely to adopt collaborative, inclusive, and constructive conflict resolution strategies that promote teacher effectiveness and student learning outcomes. The paper concludes that embedding ethical leadership training and restorative practices into school administration can significantly improve conflict resolution and strengthen school culture.