Project Management Approaches to Improving Educational Outcomes in Public Schools: A Study of Selected Public Schools in Lagos State

Abstract

This study examined the influence of project management approaches on educational outcomes in public secondary schools in Lagos State, Nigeria. Specifically, it investigated the effect of effective academic schedule management systems on students’ tertiary readiness and the influence of risk management practices on students’ academic performance in core subjects. A descriptive research design survey was adopted, and data was collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 177 teachers across selected public secondary schools. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and simple linear regression analysis. The findings revealed that effective academic schedule management systems have a significant positive relationship with students’ tertiary readiness (R = 0.246, p < 0.05), indicating that structured scheduling enhances students’ preparedness for higher education. In addition, risk management practices were found to have a stronger and statistically significant positive influence on students’ academic performance in core subjects (R = 0.402, p < 0.05), suggesting that proactive identification and mitigation of academic risks improve learning outcomes. The study concludes that project management approaches are critical for enhancing both immediate and long-term educational outcomes in public schools. It recommends the adoption of integrated management strategies that combine effective scheduling with proactive risk management practices to achieve sustainable improvements in students’ academic performance and tertiary readiness in Lagos State.