Influence of board of managements’ infrastructural development practices on students’ academic performance in public secondary schools

Abstract

The availability of infrastructure and facilities that are up to the standards and well maintained will influence both teaching and learning of students. A progressive improvement in the standard of infrastructure of a secondary school will lead to a remarkable development in the education system as a whole. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of Board of Management's (BOM) infrastructural development practices on students' academic performance in public secondary schools. A convergent parallel mixedmethod research design was used. The study targeted students, Teachers Heads of Departments, BOM members and Quality Assurance and Standards Officers, making a total study population of 19,609. Both probability and non-probability sampling methods were used to select a sample size of 396 participants. Data was collected using questionnaires, interview guides and observation tool. Inferential statistics involved the use of multiple regression analysis and analysis of variance along with descriptive statistics. The study concluded that inadequate provision of infrastructural facilities in schools by the BOM affects the teaching and learning activities which negatively affect the students' academic performance. In the regression analysis, an improvement in BOM's infrastructural management practice by one unit would result in the improvement of the students' academic performance by 0.081 units holding other factors constant. Thus, the school BoM should ensure that there is adequate infrastructure in public schools to improve academic performance among the students. The board of management should ensure a conducive teaching and learning environment in public secondary schools by providing adequate infrastructural facilities such as classrooms, laboratories, library, teaching and learning materials/resources, workshops for technical subjects, sanitary facilities and utilities.