School-Based Management and Its Contribution to Educational Quality Improvement: A Review of National and International Studies

Abstract

School-Based Management (SBM) has emerged as a key governance reform aimed at improving educational quality by decentralizing decision-making authority to the school level. Amid increasing demands for accountability, effectiveness, and adaptability in education, SBM is widely regarded as a strategic approach to enhancing school quality. However, empirical evidence indicates that the implementation of SBM across educational systems still encounters challenges, including limited leadership capacity, uneven stakeholder participation, insufficient accountability mechanisms, and varying institutional readiness. This study aims to systematically examine the contribution of School-Based Management to educational quality improvement through a review of recent national and international scientific literature. Employing a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach, this study analyzes 32 peer-reviewed articles published between 2021 and 2026. Data were collected through a structured article search and selection process based on predefined inclusion criteria and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal that School-Based Management significantly contributes to educational quality improvement, particularly through enhanced school leadership, increased school autonomy, strengthened teacher participation, and improved teaching–learning processes. The results also indicate that SBM positively influences student academic outcomes when supported by effective leadership, accountability systems, and contextual readiness. Furthermore, recent studies highlight the growing integration of quality assurance mechanisms and digital technologies within SBM practices as emerging trends in educational governance. The novelty of this study lies in its comprehensive synthesis of diverse national and international SBM research within an integrated analytical framework. Theoretically, this review contributes to the advancement of School-Based Management scholarship, while practically it provides evidence-based insights for policymakers and school leaders seeking to implement sustainable strategies for educational quality improvement.