Abstract

• The objectives of this study are to investigate principals’ knowledge, practices and difference in human resource management practices in terms of their knowledge level in Kyaukpyu and Yanbye Townships. As the research method is a mixed method, both quantitative and qualitative methods were applied. In this study, two sets of questionnaires were used. The first one is the questionnaire for principals and the second one is for teachers. There are 35 True-False items to investigate the principals’ knowledge on human resource management, and 5 open-ended questions for their practices and challenges. The questionnaire for teachers consists of 59 items for measuring principals’ human resource management practices. A total of 50 high school principals who had at least 2 years of administrative services and 300 teachers from Kyaukpyu and Yanbye Townships were selected by using purposive sampling method. Descriptive Statistics, Item Percent Correct (IPC) and One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used for analyzing the collected data. According to the findings, it was found that most of the high school principals (n=35, 70%) had average knowledge level of human resource management. However, the participant principals had moderately performed on HRM practices. There was no statistically significant difference in principals’ practices on human resource management in terms of their knowledge level. It can impact stakeholders and policy makers if they consider and implement developmental programs in accordance with findings and suggestions of this study.