OPTIMIZING RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: LESSONS FROM PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NIGERIA

Authors: Abdullahi Usman Jalingo, Engin Baysen, Abubakar Mohammed Gochi & Marwan Bello Babari

ABSTRACT

Optimizing resource management is a critical determinant of school effectiveness and student achievement. In public secondary schools in Nigeria, systemic challenges including underqualified staff, inadequate infrastructure, and limited funding continue to impede academic performance. This study evaluated the impact of human, material, and financial resource management on student academic performance, grounded in the System Resource Model. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, sampling 349 respondents (299 teachers and 50 principals) via stratified random sampling across 16 local government areas. Data were collected using the validated Resource Management and Academic Performance Questionnaire (RMAPQ). Data were evaluated using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis (alpha = 0.05). Results indicated that human resource management specifically teacher qualification, task deployment, and instructional supervision exerted the strongest influence on academic outcomes. While material resources (classrooms and learning media) enhanced instructional delivery, acute deficits in functional laboratories, ICT tools, and basic utilities constrained their potential. Financial resource management significantly influenced organizational stability through transparent budgeting and oversight. To improve educational standards, policymakers must prioritize teacher professional development, equitable infrastructure distribution, and fiscal accountability in resource-constrained secondary schools.

Keywords: Academic performance, Resource management, Public secondary schools, Nigeria

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