Abstract

Students’ academic performance and learning outcomes can be influenced by teachers’ characteristics, including gender and mental health. In the extant literature and this study’s context, little is known about the association between the gender and mental health of secondary school teachers and its relation to their students’ academic performance. This study, therefore, investigates the relationship among teachers’ gender, mental health, and students’ academic performance in Ekiti State secondary schools in Nigeria. The study utilized the quantitative research design of the correlational type. The target population for this study includes secondary school teachers and students in two Local Government Areas of the state. A sample of two hundred students and twenty-five teachers was randomly selected. Data for this study was obtained using an adapted Teachers’ Mental Health Scale (α = 0.82) for teachers and a structured Mathematics achievement test (α = 0.74) for students. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was employed to analyze the data, ensuring a robust examination of the relationship between teachers’ gender, mental health, and students’ academic performance. Findings suggest a significant and positive relationship between teachers’ gender, mental health, and students’ academic performance. These results underscore the importance of teachers’ gender and psychological well-being for students’ improved academic engagement and learning outcomes. The research highlights a total lack of empirical studies in Sub-Saharan Africa on this subject, thereby identifying a critical need for enhanced focus and intervention in the area. The detrimental effects of neglecting teachers’ mental health on the educational system and, by extension, societal progress and economic development were also illuminated. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the critical role of teachers’ gender and mental health in students’ educational success, advocating for targeted support networks and policy reforms focused on teachers’ mental health and gender equity.