Action Research Practice in Government Secondary Schools: the Case of Addis Ababa City Administration
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Date
2012-10
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the practices of action research in
government secondary of Addis Ababa city administration. An attempt was
made whether action research schools was conducted and implemented in the
schools to solve real educational problems in classrooms.
To this end, 10 sample Government secondary schools were selected out of the
50 found in the ten sub-cities of the City Administration (one from each subcity)
using purposive sampling technique. The sample schools considered for
the study were Addis ketema, Bulbula, Tikur Anbessa, Beshali, Medhnialem,
Temenga yaz, Ayer-tena, Africa Hibret, Lafto and Higher-12.
Descriptive survey method supplemented by structured interview and
document analysis was used to collect relevant data from the respondents of
each selected government high school. School level respondents comprised of
directors, teachers, members of student council and members of PTAs. Experts
of Sub-city Education Office have also participated in the study. A total of 194
respondents were selected as a sample for the study. These comprised of 10
directors, 10 members of student council, 10 members of PTAs 10 experts of
Sub-city Education Office and154 teachers selected using purposive sampling
methods, which is a quota sampling technique. The collected data were
analyzed and interpreted in SPSS software using percentages.
The findings of the study revealed that the practice of action research in Addis
Ababa City Government high schools was not adequate to solve day-to-day
teaching learning problems of all high schools. Almost leadership of the schools
. under investigation was found poor supportive and the involvement of experts,
members of PTAs and members of students' council was also poor. The
tendency to conduct action research of teachers' was weak, and lack of
capacity to conduct action. research was seen as a problem of the schools. The
scarcity of finance and other resources were also found as aggravating for the
failure of participation in conducting action research. Accordingly, the above
problems seem to have led the practice of action research in Addis Ababa city
government high schools to be poor.
To alleviate the above-mentioned problems, the schools should orgamze
training programs to the teachers and other concerned bodies at the school
level. The leadership should be supportive and committed in assisting and
designing systems to develop full participation of teachers to undertake action
research in the schools. School leadership should also prepare and provide
incentives to encourage teachers' involvement in action research
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Education