The Role of the School Management Team (Smt) in Enhancing Academic Performance: A Study of Five Selected Secondary Schools in Mbala District, Northern Province of Zambia
Authors-Luundu Sylvia Miyandaac
Keyword-School Management Team, Academic Performance, Leadership, Secondary Education, Zambia
This study examines the role of the School Management Team (SMT) in enhancing academic performance in selected secondary schools in Mbala District of Northern Province, Zambia. The SMT plays a critical role in planning, supervising, and implementing school policies that influ-ence teaching and learning outcomes. A mixed-methods research design was employed involving 120 respondents, including school administrators, teachers, and pupils. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The findings reveal that effective SMT practices—such as instructional super-vision, teacher motivation, resource management, and policy implementation—significantly con-tribute to improved academic performance. However, challenges such as inadequate resources, limited training, and administrative workload hinder optimal SMT performance. The study con-cludes that strengthening SMT capacity is essential for improving academic outcomes and rec-ommends continuous professional development, increased funding, and policy support.
Doi-[https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20539033]