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The Intervening Role of Human Resource Development Interventions on the Relationship Between School Leadership and Academic Performance in Public Senior High Schools in Ghana

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  • Kwame Owusu-Ansah Owusu Afram

    (Ghana Communication Technology University)

Abstract

Since independence, enhancing secondary education in Ghana has been a major focus of reforms. However, despite these efforts, academic performance in second-cycle schools has not fully met expectations. According to the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education, pass rates in core subjects have improved from 2006 to 2021. However, performance in these subjects still falls below 40%. This persistent underperformance has been attributed to school leadership and their capacity to effectively implement a vision for enhancing teachers’ skills and knowledge. This study examines the moderating effect of human resource development interventions on the relationship between school leadership and academic performance in public senior high schools in Ghana. Grounded in distributed leadership and social learning theories, the study uses a positivist approach to analyze these relationships systematically. A cross-sectional design was employed, utilising self-administered questionnaires to collect data from a target population of 928 public senior high schools listed by the Ghana Education Service as of December 2023. A cluster-stratified random sampling technique selected 2176 respondents from 16 strata. Data was processed and analyzed using SPSS version 27. The analysis included both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found a positive significant correlation (R= 0.669) between school leadership and academic performance. The study further found that human resource development interventions significantly moderated (R= 0.289) the relationship and strengthened the effect of school leadership on academic performance. The study recommends that the Ministry and relevant agencies appoint competent school leaders to senior high schools.

Suggested Citation

  • Kwame Owusu-Ansah Owusu Afram, 2025. "The Intervening Role of Human Resource Development Interventions on the Relationship Between School Leadership and Academic Performance in Public Senior High Schools in Ghana," International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), vol. 12(3), pages 257-272, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bjc:journl:v:12:y:2025:i:3:p:257-272
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nicholas Bloom & Renata Lemos & Raffaella Sadun & John Van Reenen, 2015. "Does Management Matter in schools?," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 0(584), pages 647-674, May.
    2. Alex Bryson & Lucy Stokes & David Wilkinson, 2023. "Is pupil attainment higher in well-managed schools?," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(1), pages 129-144, January.
    3. Meryem Aybas & Ahmet Cevat Acar, 2017. "The Effect of Human Resource Management Practices on Employees’ Work Engagement and the Mediating and Moderating Role of Positive Psychological Capital," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 7(1), pages 363-372.
    4. Blessing Dwumah Manu & Huaisheng Zhang & Daniel Oduro & Anastasia Krampah-Nkoom & Isaac Adjei Mensah & Oswin Aganda Anaba & Adubofour Isaac, 2020. "School Board Efficiency in Financial Management and Human Resource in Public Senior High Schools: An Evidence from Ashanti Region, Ghana," International Journal of Social Science Studies, Redfame publishing, vol. 8(1), pages 79-89, January.
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