Effect of School Management on Students’ Perceived Academic Achievement among Seventh-Day Adventist Secondary Schools in North-East Tanzania

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of school management on students’ perceived academic achievement among Seventh- day Adventist secondary schools in in North-East Tanzania. The study employed survey research design, whereby a self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 311 randomly selected students and their responses were analyzed through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The study established that school management was effective in planning, motivating and encouraging students to work hard toward maximized academic achievement. However, the school management was perceived ineffective in accepting ideas from students and involving parents in decision making. Students were satisfied with their academic achievement and believed that their academic competence keeps increasing from day to day but were undecided whether teachers and parents are satisfied with their academic achievement. Finally, students’ academic achievement is positively influenced by effective school management. Based on the conclusions, the researchers recommended that, while school management is effective in planning, motivating and encouraging students to work hard toward maximized achievement, the school leaders need to improve on acceptance of constructive ideas from students and involving parents in decision making processes. While students were satisfied with their academic achievement and they were undecided whether teachers and parents are satisfied with their academic achievements, there is a need to enhance the interaction between students and their parents and teachers for them to grasp how parents and teachers perceive their academic achievement. Finally, while students’ academic achievement is positively influenced be effective school management, there is need for school leaders to improve their managerial practices which will enhance the level of academic achievement by students in the respective schools.