STUDENTS’ PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AS CORRELATE TO STUDENTS ACHIEVEMENT IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OWERRI EDUCATION ZONES OF IMO STATE

Abstract

In this study the researcher investigated students’ personnel management practices as correlate to students' achievement in senior secondary schools in Owerri Education Zones of Imo State, Nigeria. To guide the study, two research questions were asked and two hypotheses were formulated. The study adopted a correlational research design involving simple linear method. The population of this study was 32,195 students from the 126 public senior secondary schools in Owerri Education Zones of Imo State. The researcher drew a sample of 395 respondents from 18 selected public senior secondary schools using Taro Yamane formula. Proportionate random sampling technique was used to select the respondents. The researcher used the rating scale titled Students’ Personnel Management Practices Scale (SPMPS) and Achievement Test titled: Mathematics and English Language Achievement Test (MELAT) which contained 35 items and 20 multiple choice questions. The instruments were validated by three research specialists. Reliability coefficients of 0.82 for SPMPS and 0.81 for MELAT were obtained using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) and Kudder-Richardson (KR-20) respectively. The researcher used Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) to answer the research questions and t-test of the significance of Pearson “r” to test the hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. The result found that discipline, health services, library services and counseling services have low, positive and significant extent of relationship with students’ achievement in public senior secondary schools in Owerri Education Zones of Imo State. The study concluded that students’ academic success is dependent on students’ personnel management in areas such as library services and health services. The effective management of these practices guarantee conducive learning environment whereby improved academic achievement is possible. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that Government should as a matter of urgency make provision for sickbays in the various schools as well as revamp the already existing ones that have no facilities or have been abandoned in order to cater for the health challenges of students whenever the need arises. This will help to ensure that the students are conversant with the rules and regulations of the school and abide strictly to them.