Influence of school climate on academic performance A case of selected Junior High Schools in Ga West Municipal Assembly

Abstract

The study sought to examine the relationship between school climate and academic performance. The study specifically sought to assess the school climate in the selected Junior High Schools and examine its influence on academic performance. This study was a purely quantitative study where data were obtained from 83 students and 83 teachers as well as 83 results of the previous BECE results from 5 schools in the Ga West Municipality through simple random sampling. The population was students and teachers of five Junior high schools including Amasaman M/A Basic School 1, Kojo Ashong Methodist Basic School, Nsakina M/A Basic School, Holy Innocent Anglican Basic and Achiaman M/A Basic School. The study employed the use of sample means and standard deviations for reporting on the descriptive variables, independent samples t-test; and multiple regression analysis with an acceptable significance level of 5% (p 0.05). The study found that teachers have a higher perception of the quality of the school climate in the respective Junior High Schools in the Ga West Municipality whereas students have a moderate perception of the quality of school climate. Again, student engagement has a significant positive effect on the academic performance of the students in the selected Junior High Schools in the Ga West Municipality but does not moderate the relationship between any component of school climate in the selected Junior High Schools and the student academic performance. Based on the findings of this study, a productive school climate should be investigated and established. The elements of a successful school environment should be determined in advance by policymakers, who should then establish a healthy and effective school climate policy to be followed in all schools and across the community. With the help of this study, policy makers as well as school management make efforts to assess and improve the school climate in place at the respective schools.