High School Performance Research Articles

The Bureaucratization of the Romanian Education System from a Weberian Perspective

Abstract The study aims to identify the causes and effects of the bureaucratization of the Romanian education system, in relation to the Weberian theory of bureaucracy. The principles of bureaucracy, enunciated by Max Weber, are discussed and the way they are taken into account and perceived in the case of education in Romania is followed. The study also aims to compare Romania with other countries (Finland, Spain and the United Kingdom) in terms of the perception of bureaucracy. The main results of the other research show that the countries mentioned follow a pragmatic approach, while the Romanian education system prefers a bureaucratic approach. This difference results from the standards that are lacking in Romanian education, both at management level and in terms of educational activities themselves. In pre-university education in Romania, for example, there is a culture of control, without a clear picture of what a high-performing school means, school inspections become only a bureaucratic action, without really measuring the quality of teachers and education. In higher education, bureaucracy is confirmed by the permanent appointment of rectors or by other legislative decisions that burden universities with tasks that should be carried out by other institutions. The new education laws in Romania increase the bureaucracy already existing in the education system, and all this is the result of misunderstanding and misapplication of the principles of bureaucracy.

Analyzing effects of managerial skills of government high school heads on school performance: a study of schools of Larkana District

Abstract Present study aimed at investigating the effects of the managerial skills of school heads on academic performance of students in district Larkana, Sindh. The major objectives of the study was to determine specific managerial skills of school heads, effects of those skill of performance of high schools of Larkana and strategies to improve them. Saturated sampling techniques was utilized for selecting respondents of present study. Additionally, twenty five government high heads of Larkana District were considered for collecting data. Close-ended and open-ended questionnaires were utilized for gathering data. Reliability was tested using Cronbach Coefficient Aloha where coefficient 0.757 was considered to be realizable. Analyzed data were showed in APA style tables. The analyzed data showed that most of the government high school heads of Larkana District were able to utilize numerous managerial skills that were effecting school performance. However, for further improving their skills different strategies were needed to be implemented. It was also suggested that high school heads should be dedicated to their built-in managerial skills and use them in their daily duties. While, they also should facilitate numerous opportunities to attend training and workshops for positively effecting the school performance.

The analysis of the principal's leadership impact on teacher performance through teacher competence and compensation as mediator

The competence of teachers is a crucial aspect that warrants increased attention in order to ensure the success of the teaching process.This study aims to determine whether teacher competence mediates the influence of the principal's leadership on teacher performance in private high schools throughout Kuningan Regency; To find out that compensation mediates the influence of the principal's leadership on teacher performance in private high schools throughout Kuningan Regency. This research is categorized as a type of quantitative research with survey techniques. The data analysis technique used is parallel multiple mediator models. And the sample used is 131 teachers in private high schools in Kuningan Regency. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that: Principal leadership influences teacher performance. This means that the more effective the principal's leadership, the higher the teacher's performance; Teacher competence fully mediates the influence of the principal's leadership on teacher performance in Private High Schools throughout Kuningan; Teacher compensation partially mediates the influence of the principal's leadership on teacher performance in private high schools throughout Kuningan.

Opportunity Hoarding and Elite Reproduction: School Segregation in Post-Apartheid South Africa

Abstract School integration is an important indicator of equality of opportunity and racial reconciliation in contemporary South Africa. Despite its prominence in public and political discourse, however, there is no systemic evidence on the levels and patterns of school segregation. Drawing on the literature on the post-apartheid political settlement and sociological theories of opportunity hoarding, we explain how the small White minority and, to a lesser extent, the new Black middle class monopolized access to South Africa’s most prestigious schools following the abolition of de jure segregation in 1994. Using the 2021 Annual School Survey—an administrative dataset covering all South African schools—and the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study school survey, we find very high levels of school segregation along racial as well as socioeconomic lines. White students almost exclusively attend former White schools, have little exposure to the low-income Black majority, and are vastly overrepresented in elite public and private schools. We argue that in South Africa and other contexts with under-resourced education systems, elite capture of the few high-performing schools serves to reproduce race and class privilege.

Mind Mapping on Junior High School Performance in Chemistry

The study assessed the status of mind mapping as a strategy in teaching Grade 7 Chemistry at Zapatera National High School, Sikatuna St., Brgy. Zapatera, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines. Each group were given two different treatments – the Control group having the chalk talk method and the Experimental group having the mind mapping for five (5) weeks. The pre-test revealed that both groups were described as “Poor”. Among all the competencies tested, the distinguishing of mixtures from substances based on set properties got the lowest mean. After five (5) weeks, the post-test showed that the respondent's group performed differently. The Control group got a grand mean of 7.23, which is “Good” while the experimental group got 9.65, which is also “Good” but slightly higher than that of the control group. As to the significant difference in the post-test of the respondent groups, the Control group’s performance revealed that there is a significant difference. Meanwhile, the Experimental group’s post-test performance result is “Highly Significant”. “Mind Mapping” as a strategy evidently showed a vital connection on the improvement of the Junior High School performance in Chemistry. It is more effective in both teaching and learning process as compared to the chalk talk method. Thus, the proposed learning activities is highly recommended.

The Influence of the Principal’s Managerial Leadership and Work Discipline on SMA Teacher’s Performance

Education is the basic capital for improving the quality of good human resources and achieving success in the national development process in all fields. Education aims to provide various proactive and creative efforts by all components of the nation so that the young generation can develop optimally. School principals play an important role in efforts to mobilize teachers to have work performance, mature coordination, and leadership that is in harmony with the work environment. The aim of the research is to analyze the influence of managerial leadership, the work discipline of school principals, and the influence of both together on teacher performance in high schools throughout Banyuasin I Regency. This research was carried out at SMAN 1 Banyuasin I, SMAN 2 Banyuasin I, and SMA YP Mantra Mariana Banyuasin I Regency. This research uses descriptive analysis. The sampling methodology uses probability sampling. Research shows that the performance of teachers in high schools in Banyuasin I Regency is quite good, but there is a significant gap between the number of teachers and the number of students. The research results show that teacher performance at SMA Negeri 2 Banyuasin I is still low, with a high percentage of teachers in 2017/2018 and a low percentage of teachers in 2018/2019. This shows the need for further research regarding teacher management and teacher discipline to improve teacher performance in high schools throughout Banyuasin I Regency.

The how’s and how often’s of school harassment: How do they influence the academic achievement of adolescents over time?

A vast body of literature shows that school harassment is negatively associated with academic achievement, particularly in elementary and middle schools. Few studies have examined the influence of forms and frequencies of harassment—whether relational, verbal, cyber, or physical—on academic performance in high schools. We investigate how the how’s and when’s of harassment are associated with the academic achievement of adolescents over time in Chile, using standardized test scores of a sample of schoolchildren (n = 80,117) and fixed effect models. We find that being physically bullied and cyberbullied are linked to poor academic performance, whereas verbal and social abuse are not. These results underline the significance of working with disaggregated measures of harassment in school interventions at different stages.

Work Stress, Work Environment, And Teacher Performance In Islamic High Schools

This study investigates the effects of demographic factors, workplace stress, and the work environment on teachers' performance. Employing quantitative methodologies, it analyzes responses from teachers (Men = 51.7%, Women = 48.3%) at three Islamic Higher Schools or Madrasah Aliyah in Indonesia. Data was gathered through questionnaires directly handed out to respondents. The questionnaires included some demographic details of the participants, such as their gender, age, level of education, duration of employment, and monthly income. A Likert scale was employed to record respondents’ opinions on work stress, work environment, and teacher performance. Data was tested for normality, heteroskedasticity, and multicollinearity before finally being analyzed using multiple linear regression. Findings indicate a marginal performance advantage for married teachers over their single counterparts (B = .234, p = .063), meaning that married teachers perform slightly better than nonmarried teachers. Workplace stress was found to have a negligible effect on teacher performance (B = .160, p = .187), suggesting that teachers' performance did not depend on their being stressed or unstressed. Furthermore, the work environment significantly influences teacher performance (B = .345, p = .006), meaning a conducive work environment leads to better teacher performance. These results highlight the importance of creating a supportive and conducive workplace to enhance teacher productivity, suggesting that educational institutions should prioritize improvements in the work environment to foster optimal teacher performance.

The Influence of Teacher’s Infrastructure and Teacher’s Creativity on Teacher’s Performance

Education is an important aspect of society that requires various skills, strategies, and learning models. Innovation is very important to overcome educational problems. The quality of the learning process depends on organizing and managing input from teachers, students, money, and resources. Creativity in learning is a system that is not easy to control but is very important for effective learning. However, monotonous learning can lead to monotony, lack of motivation, and lack of passion in students. The author observes the poor quality of junior high school teachers in Namang District, the absence of a social studies laboratory, learning media facilities, and certification. Many teachers are not linear in their areas of competence. This research aims to determine the influence of infrastructure and teacher creativity on teacher performance in junior high schools in Namang District, Central Bangka Regency. This research will be conducted at junior high schools in Namang District, Central Bangka Regency, using quantitative research with a descriptive approach. The population is teachers in Namang District with a sample of 53 respondents. The research will be carried out through pre-research, followed by a trial phase, where questionnaires will be distributed. Observational data collection techniques, and documentation. Research suggests improving facilities and infrastructure in schools, especially in UKS rooms, to ensure students can relax and unwind. Teacher creativity is essential for effective teaching, offering a variety of methods and practices to avoid monotony. Apart from that, teacher performance also needs to be improved, especially in providing individual guidance to students who have problems. Schools should encourage active and enthusiastic teachers to increase their overall efforts in education.

Identifying Large Young Hacker Concentration in Indonesia

An Indonesian 2023 Capture the Flag competition for 18-year-olds is looked at for the first time. It engaged a diverse participant profile, encompassing high school students and the general public from various regions. Java Island saw the most participation, especially in East Java, with little interest from Jakarta's youth, possibly due to the abundance of distractions. Despite varied educational backgrounds, vocational institutes, notably in East Java, featured prominently. Gender diversity was limited, with no female participants progressing to the final stage. Analysis of problem categories indicated diverse performance, highlighting challenges in digital signature, online hacking, network analysis, and database assault. Normalization emphasized problems within high school students' capabilities, suggesting the integration of cybersecurity education into curricula. Finalists predominantly hail from Central and East Java, indicating a regional concentration. Younger, non-Javanese participants underscored passion's role in success. Successful profiles revealed independent skill acquisition through online platforms, especially John Hammond's YouTube channel, emphasizing the need for accessible cybersecurity education resources. The study advocates prioritizing ICT education, particularly in networking, online hacking, OSINT, and cryptography, to enhance high school CTF participation and performance. The findings showcase the significance of passion-driven, self-directed learning in fostering ethical hacking skills among Indonesian youth.

Disparities in School Performance in Romania. A Geostatistical Analysis of Baccalaureate Results between 2015-2022

This study analyses the evolution of the main indicators of students’ high school performance at the high school graduation exams (Romanian Baccalaureate) from a geographical perspective. Both participation and pass rates fluctuate depending on the type of high school, gender and place of residence. Behind these quantifiable characteristics there are significant disparities in (in)equality of educational opportunities influenced by the questionable efficiency of the education system in providing quality education to every student, regardless of their parents’ financial background. Although the upper cycle of secondary school (11-12th grades) is not legally compulsory, successful graduation is essential for the economic, social and cultural insertion of the future adults in a functioning society. The lack of performance of some high schools and vulnerable groups of students, who face problems of accessibility, motivation, opportunity, and financial support, as well as the worrying numbers of exam absentees, must be brought baccalaureate to the permanent agenda of the policy makers, not exclusively during the exam period. The complexity of the official data from 2015-2022 has allowed the geostatistical analysis of school performance, highlighting the deep discrepancies within the system, specifically between urban and rural students, the administrative and economic hierarchy of the locality and the prestige of the high school attended. The insights of this analysis can be used to identify optimal solutions to enhance the research about educational disparities.

Online teaching, gender differences and education outcomes: Evidence from Chinese urban high schools during the COVID-19

We examine the short- and medium-term impacts of online teaching during COVID-19 on the academic performance of high school freshmen, employing unique data from three high schools of different academic performance levels in Zhejiang Province, China. We find that relative to the cohort not affected by COVID-19 and experiencing no online teaching in their freshman year, online teaching had short-term negative effects on Chinese performance in the high-performing school and math performance in the mid-performing school but no significant effects on other tests and in the low-performing school. The negative effects disappeared eight months after students returned to traditional classroom teaching, and students in the high-performing school indeed experienced a significant positive effect in math performance. Moreover, following online teaching, girls in key classes in the high-performing school performed better in math in both the short and medium term, significantly narrowing the math performance gap with their male classmates, while boys in the low-performing school experienced significant declines in both Chinese and math in the medium term.

TIMSS vs. PISA: what can they tell us about student success?—a comparison of Swedish and Norwegian TIMSS and PISA 2015 results with a focus on school factors

This paper explores the measurement capabilities of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) in assessing school factors that influence student performance. We specifically focus on the 2015 assessments of the science performance of eighth graders in Sweden and Norway. This was the latest year when the two assessments were conducted in the same year and science was the major subject area in the PISA assessment, which was essential for maximizing the assessments’ comparability. Using multilevel models, the study identifies common and unique factors across the assessments and investigates the factors that influence student performance at different proficiency levels. The findings highlight the importance of school-level factors, which are significant in both assessments. Moreover, both assessments provide information on overlapping sets of factors that have varying influence on the performance of students with different proficiency levels. Overall, there are limited common factors between TIMSS and PISA. School factors vary between low-performing and high-performing schools, with differing significance in Norway and Sweden. The results indicate that TIMSS and PISA assessments offer complementary information, particularly for low-performing schools. Our findings suggest that different school types may benefit or suffer from distinct school factors. The findings are relevant for both educational professionals and policy-makers.

A Study of Components and Indicators of Being Quality Organization of Phrapariyattidhamma School, General Education Department, in the Northeast

The purpose of this study was to 1) study the components and indicators of being quality organization of Phrapariyattidhamma School, General Education Department, in the Northeast, and 2) evaluate the suitability of the components and indicators of being quality organization of Phrapariyattidhamma School, General Education Department, in the Northeast. The phases were divided into 2 phases: 1) studying documents and related works on the components of being quality organization and synthesize received data of components of being quality organization with 7 experts, and 2) evaluating the suitability of components and indicators of being quality organization employing suitability test verified by the experts on question details. The data analysis was by computer program using Rating Scale, Average, and Standard Deviation.
 
 The findings of the study were found that the components and indicators of being quality organization Phrapariyattidhamma School, General Education Department, in the Northeast contained 5 components and 43 indicators: 1) 9 indicators of quality learners, 2) 8 indicators of professional teachers, 3) 9 indicators of high-performance school, 4) 5 indicators of strategic management, 5) 8 indicators of community cooperation and the results of the overall evaluation of the components and indicators were at a higher level.

Improving Academic Advising in Engineering Education with Machine Learning Using a Real-World Dataset

The role of academic advising has been conducted by faculty-student advisors, who often have many students to advise quickly, making the process ineffective. The selection of the incorrect qualification increases the risk of dropping out, changing qualifications, or not finishing the qualification enrolled in the minimum time. This study harnesses a real-world dataset comprising student records across four engineering disciplines from the 2016 and 2017 academic years at a public South African university. The study examines the relative importance of features in models for predicting student performance and determining whether students are better suited for extended or mainstream programmes. The study employs a three-step methodology, encompassing data pre-processing, feature importance selection, and model training with evaluation, to predict student performance by addressing issues such as dataset imbalance, biases, and ethical considerations. By relying exclusively on high school performance data, predictions are based solely on students’ abilities, fostering fairness and minimising biases in predictive tasks. The results show that removing demographic features like ethnicity or nationality reduces bias. The study’s findings also highlight the significance of the following features: mathematics, physical sciences, and admission point scores when predicting student performance. The models are evaluated, demonstrating their ability to provide accurate predictions. The study’s results highlight varying performance among models and their key contributions, underscoring the potential to transform academic advising and enhance student decision-making. These models can be incorporated into the academic advising recommender system, thereby improving the quality of academic guidance.

Pengaruh Lingkungan Kerja Fisik dan Motivasi Kerja terhadap Kinerja Guru di SMP Negeri 03 dan SMA Negeri 03 Kecamatan Talang Ubi Kabupaten Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir

This study aims to determine the effect of Physical Work Environment and Work Motivation on Teacher Performance in SMP Negeri 03 and SMA Negeri 03 Talang Ubi District, Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir Regency. The population of this study were all teachers at SMP Negeri 03 and SMA Negeri 03. The sample in this study were 36 respondents totaling 56 respondents.. This type of research is Descriptive research with a Quantitative approach. The data used is primary data. Data collection methods using questionnaire techniques. Data analysis techniques are Multiple Linear Regression, F test, Determination Coefficient T test, and Correlation Coefficient test. The results of Multiple Linear Regression Variable Physical Work Environment and Work Motivation have a positive influence on Teacher Performance in SMP Negeri 03 and SMA Negeri 03 Talang Ubi District Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir Regency. The results of the F test analysis show that simultaneously there is a significant effect of Physical Work Environment Variables and Work Motivation have a significant effect on Teacher Performance in State Junior High School 03 and State Senior High School 03 Talang Ubi District Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir Regency. The partial t test results show that the Physical Work Environment and Work Motivation Variables have a significant effect on Teacher Performance in SMP Negeri 03 and SMA Negeri 03, Talang Ubi District, Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir Regency. Analysis of the Coefficient of Determination shows that 67.1% of the variables of Physical Work Environment and Work Motivation affect Teacher Performance in State Junior High School 03 and State Senior High School 03, Talang Ubi District, Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir Regency, while the remaining 32.9% is influenced by other variables not included in this study.

Measuring the impact of principals' competence and facilities on teachers' achievement in Public Vocational High Schools in Palembang City: A multivariate analysis

The level of teacher performance in carrying out their main duties at school is greatly influenced by the competence of the school principal and the completeness of school facilities. This study examines the influence of school principals' competence and the completeness of school facilities on the performance of vocational high school (SMK) teachers in Palembang City. Employing a quantitative correlational design, the study involved 55 teachers from three vocational high schools.. The research instrument was validated using Pearson Product Moment, and data reliability was verified using the Cronbach Alpha test. The research results reveal that (1) the principal's competence is related to teacher performance, and the principal's competence has minimal influence on the performance of vocational school teachers. (2) Facilities and infrastructure were found to be related to vocational school teacher performance. Facilities and infrastructure have a significant effect on the performance of vocational school teachers. (3) The competence of the school principal, facilities and infrastructure have a significant influence on the performance of vocational school teachers. These findings underscore the importance of developing school leadership and enhancing facilities to support teacher performance. The study invites further research to explore additional factors affecting teacher performance and strategic implementation to improve the quality of vocational education. Implications for educational practice include the enhancement of leadership training programs and investment in adequate educational infrastructure.

The Impact of Teacher Competencies, Academic Supervision, and Principal Leadership on Teacher Performance in the Gambia's Government High Schools

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of teacher competencies, academic supervisors, and principal leadership on teacher performance. A quantitative method was used in this study. A questionnaire utilizing a Likert-type of 5 rating scales was used to collect information using the survey method. The study included 125 respondents who were chosen at random from the senior high schools in Regional Education Directorate I&II. Multiple linear regression and the coefficient of determination test (R2) were used to analyze the data. According to the findings, teacher competencies, academic supervision, and principal leadership all have a positive and significant impact on teachers' performance. Leadership is necessary to guide, oversee, and regulate people, property, and challenges affecting the school, as well as to identify appropriate solutions to problems that may appear in order to achieve the desired objectives. The efforts of the vice principals and other senior teachers as supervisors can supplement the endeavors of the principal to ensure the correct execution of plans and accomplish their objectives. Academic supervision assists teachers in identifying and strengthening their weak areas in order to deliver appropriately, as well as improving their skills and performance. Activities like these could add to good working conditions, ethics, and a welcoming environment for teachers and students, as well as increasing teachers' competencies by providing them with thorough knowledge and mastery of their subject area and job in order boost their performance. This study will give insights into the factors that have a significant impact on teachers' performance.

The Influence of Principal Transformation on Junior High School Teachers' Performance and Job Satisfaction

Internal and external factors influence the low performance of junior high school teachers. Private junior high school (SMP) teachers in Banjarbaru are strongly influenced by transformational leadership, work motivation, and job satisfaction, so improving teacher performance by identifying the problems they face and finding alternative solutions is necessary. The research was conducted to analyze the direct and indirect influence of the principal's transformational leadership and work motivation on performance through job satisfaction of private junior high school teachers in Banjarbaru City. The research design used in this research is descriptive, using a path analysis model (part analysis) to analyze the pattern of influence between variables. The research population was 266 teachers from 14 private junior high schools in Banjarbaru City. Moreover, 160 respondents were taken as research samples using the Probability Simple Random Sampling technique. Data collection uses questionnaire instruments, and data analysis uses descriptive analysis, classical assumption testing, hypothesis testing, and path analysis. The results of the data analysis obtained show that the regression coefficient value of the transformational leadership variable of the principal and teacher performance is 0.396, the variable job satisfaction and teacher performance is 0.365, the variable work motivation and teacher performance is 0.226, the variable principal transformational leadership and job satisfaction is 0.605, the variable work motivation and job satisfaction is 0.290, the variable transformational leadership with performance through job satisfaction is 0.137 and the variable work motivation and performance through job satisfaction is 0.073. The research results show that the level of transformational leadership of school principals, the level of job satisfaction, and the level of teacher performance in junior high schools in the city of Banjarbaru are in the medium category, while the level of work motivation is in the high category. There is a partial direct relationship between the transformational leadership of school principals, work motivation, job satisfaction, and teacher performance in private junior high schools in Banjarbaru. There is an indirect relationship between transformational leadership, work motivation, and performance through job satisfaction in private junior high schools throughout Banjarbaru City, so there is a need to increase the variables of transformational leadership, work motivation, job satisfaction, and teacher performance.

Associations between body size and visual impairment of first-year university students in Chongqing: A cross-sectional study.

The relationship between body size and visual impairment (VI) presents a controversial topic in the health sciences. This study aims to evaluate and clarify the potential associations between these 2 variables. We conducted a cross-sectional study on first-year students enrolled in 2022 at the Southwest University of Political Science & Law. The students underwent a series of physical examinations and visual acuity tests. Visual impairment was classified into 3 categories: mild, moderate, or severe. We used logistic regression analysis to examine the association between body size and VI. Our findings indicated a high prevalence of VI among first-year university students; more than 80% of them were affected. In bivariate analysis, height and weight were negatively related to the presence of VI. However, BMI (body mass index) was not related to VI. By adjusting all available confounders, no associations between BMI (OR = 1.002, 95% CI = 0.974-1.032, P = .877), height (OR = 0.998, 95% CI = 0.967-1.010, P = .298), weight (OR = 0.999, 95% CI = 989-1.009, P = .860), and mild-severe VI were found in females. For males, the ORs were 0.988 (95% CI = 0.955-1.021, P = .459), 0.980 (95% CI = 0.954-1.006, P = .135), and 0.995 (95% CI = 0.985-1.004, P = .285) for BMI, height, and weight, respectively. Among young adults demonstrating high academic performance in high schools, the cessation of physical growth, combined with potential eye strain resulting from overuse, may mitigate any previously observed positive associations between physical status and VI in younger children.