IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science (IOSR-JNHS) e-ISSN: 2320–1959.p- ISSN: 2320–1940 Volume 3, Issue 1 , Ver. I, (Nov - Dec. 2013), PP 37-46 www.iosrjournals.org www.iosrjournals.org 37 | Page Relationship between School Quality and Students’ Performance in Selected Schools of Nursing in South-Western Nigeria Mary Idowu Edward, Rn, M.Sc Nursing Ondo State School of Nursing, Igbatoro Road, Akure, Ondo State. Abstract: Introduction: The purpose of Schools of Nursing is to produce quality nurses with knowledge and practical skills with abilities of competing in the labour market. The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) expectation of good performance in Nursing and Midwifery Council Qualifying Examination (NMCQE) is between 90% and 100% consistently. Disappointedly, the result of NMCFQE for the past 5 years did not reach this set standard. Some schools scored even below 50%. Different factors including school quality (SQ), educational background, intelligence, learning abilities, attitudes, among other variables influence learning outcomes. This study investigated school quality (SQ) which describes what is available in Schools of Nursing as teaching-learning resources in relation to student academic performance (SP). Methods: The descriptive correlative design method was used in the study with a target population of sixteen (16) Schools of Nursing in South-Western Nigeria. Purposive and stratified random techniques were used to select 12 Schools of Nursing out of sixteen (16) schools. The schools were stratified as Federal Government Schools (FGS), State Government Schools (SGS) and Mission Schools (MS). Random sampling was utilized to select schools that are more than one under each of the establishing authority while purposive sampling was used to select a school that is the only one under an establishment. The instrument for data collection was researcher’s designed School Quality Assessment Checklist (SQAC) using four quality indicators of World Bank School Quality Model (1991). The Quality Indicators (QI) are Teachers’ Quality Indicators (TQI), Physical and Material Quality Indicators (PMQI), Finance Quality Indicators (FQI) and Resources Management and Organization Quality Indicators (RMOQI). Pearson Moment Correlation statistical package was used to analyse the data. Correlation Coefficient was computed between the results of the School Quality Indicators (SQI) and 5years results of NMCQE in the Schools under study. Three hypotheses were raised and tested at 0.05level of significance. Results: Findings revealed that there is positive insignificant relationship between SQ (mean: 87 ± 4.8) and SP (mean: 76 ± 10), r = .29 p>0.05; TQ (mean: 16.4 ± 2) and SP (mean: 76 ± 10), r = .23 p>0.05; PMRQI (mean: 41± 4.4) and SP (mean: 76 ± 10), r = .32 p>0.05; FQI (mean: 12 ±1.6) and SP(mean: 76 ± 10), r = .06 p>0.05. There was a negative insignificant relationship between RMOQI (mean: 18 ± 3.4) and SP (mean: 76 ± 10), r = -.15 p>0.05. A significant difference exists between SP in the FGS (mean: 83 ± 3.2); SGS (mean: 67.7 ± 7.3) and MS (mean: 80.2 ± 8.5) p <0.05.There is no significant difference between SQ in FGS (mean: 90 ±. 6), SGS (mean: 84.4 ± 6.2); and MS (mean: 88 ± 2.6) p>0.05. Conclusion: It was confirmed that weak relationships exist between SQ and SP in the schools under study. It is therefore recommended that concerted efforts be made to improve the School Quality Indicators (SQI) which will invariably improve students’ performance (SP) in Schools of Nursing. Key Words: School quality, school quality indicators, students’ performance, school quality indicator model I. Introduction The scope of healthcare delivery is rapidly changing and nursing profession must keep pace with the changes. In order to ensure this, Schools of Nursing have a role to play in ensuring delivery of quality nursing education to student nurses. However, one of the factors that can ensure delivery of quality nursing education is high school quality. It is believed that high school quality will enhance students learning and their performance in examinations. The purpose of any school, nursing school inclusive is to produce quality students that are equipped with knowledge and practical skills as well as the capability of competing in the labour market. Schools of Nursing in particular strife to maintain standard of training set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. Attempts have been made and are still being made to find out the contributing factors affecting the efforts of the schools in producing students that will perform excellently in the final examination and in eventual practice. Literature abounds (Oladokun, 2008, Amoo, 2006; Smendon & Cromen, 2004, Burgin, 2003;) with various research findings all putting forward hypotheses, suggestions, and ideas about the factors influencing students’ performances in examinations. Some of these factors are School Quality, students’ educational background, intelligence, attitude of the students, financial background of the students’ age maturity, sex and many others (Hijaz & Raza-Navgi, 2006, Hanushek, 2005, Geleto, 2004).