The status of managerial practices in woreda education offices in snnpr
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Date
2007-06
Authors
Beyene, Assefa
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
The organization and management of education system in Ethiopia has been
decentralized since 1994. Accordingly, the WEOs are among the organs introduced as
a result of the decentralization process. However, effective implementation of
decentralized functions at local (Woreda) level calls for better practices of managerial
functions on the one hand and adequacy in the provision of system's resources on the
other hand. Thus, the intention of this study was to assess the status of managerial
practices in Woreda Education Offices in SNNPR. Hence, the suggestions forwarded
as a result of this study are belied to indicate some of alternative measures to be
taken to improve the status of managerial practices in WEOs in SNNPR.
The study was conducted on 12 Woredas in SNNPR. The research method employed
in the study was the descriptive survey. To substantiate the study with important
theoretical basis the review of related literature was made. The sources of data were
education officials and experts at Regional and Zonal levels, the heads and team
leaders of all sampled WEOs, the school principals, the head of Woreda Finance
Offices, and Woreda Education and Training Boards. A total of 123 respondents were
involved in this study. The dominant sampling techniques used were availability and
purposive. Data were gathered through questionnaires, interviews, and observation
checklists. The data analysis techniques employed were the mean, weighted mean, ttest
and chi-square test.
The result of data analysis indicated that there were weaknesses in gathering
detailed information and low participation of stakeholders in order to prepare sound
plans. In addition, the organizational s tructure was poorly suited and there were
problems of unity of command. Moreover, professional support provided to schools
and efforts exerted in preparing short term capacity building trainings at Woreda level
were found to be poor. Above all, the lack of finance, skilled man power and material
resources was found to be serious problem in WEOs. As a result, the s tatus of
managerial practices in WEOs in SNNPR is affected by the mix of poor p erformance
status of principal management functions such as planning, organizing and leading as
well as inadequacy of system's resources (skilled manpower, finance and material
resources).
Hence, it is recommended that ins titutionalizing the Woreda level Educational
Management Information System, revision and the resultant modification of
organizational structure of WEOs, provision of continuous local level capacity building
trainings on educational planning and management as well as giving due
consideration for education sector at Woreda level when allocating budget are some of
the essential steps to be taken in order to improve the status of managerial practices
in WEOs.
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Keywords
The status of managerial