The Practices and Problems of School Leadership: The Case of Some Selected Secondary Schools in Addis Ababa City Administration
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Date
2017-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the practices and problems of school leadership: The case of some selected secondary schools in Addis Ababa City Administration. The study employed descriptive survey design and was conducted in five secondary schools from five sub-cities out of 32 secondary schools. To collect the relevant data questionnaire, interview and document analysis were used during the study. Data was gathered from 108 teachers, 19 school principals, 18 supervisors and 55 department heads were analyzing using five rating scales and percentages. The schools and teachers were selected using random sampling techniques and principals, supervisors and department heads taken totally. The review of literature focused on the concept of leadership, leadership styles and characteristics of effective leadership and major factors that challenge school leadership. Descriptive survey design was supported by qualitative study that was employed to study the practices. To collect the relevant data questionnaire of both closed and open ended questions were used. Interview and document analysis were conducted during the study. Accordingly, questionnaire was prepared to be filled by teachers, department heads, vice principals, supervisors and interviews were administered for principals and vice principals. The data obtained through questionnaires were analyzed using statistical tool such as percentages. The major findings of this study were the qualification of school principals and related professional skill and knowledge was against the intended plan of Ethiopian Ministry of education, Educational leaders are poor in inviting change, innovation and creativity, regarding principals’ human relation skill was found that there was moderate attempt to form relationship among the staff of the schools, majority of school principals are not active in participating parents’ school decision making, , the principals greatly resembles to perform routine tasks than strategic tasks and in schools there are shortage of the needed resources, lower commitment of both teachers and principals, lower of competencies of the principals due to the shortage of relevant and timely professional training. The major conclusions based on the findings were concerning the qualification; all school leaders in selected secondary schools are not qualified with principal ship or not trained in the area of educational leadership. So principals’ performance have a negative impact in the attainment of the educational goals of the school, principals by themselves agreed that they were in a poor performance in inviting change and innovation, they were also poorly performed, invite change and innovation., concerning time allocation principals are not spend their academic time for proper work but they mostly consume the time for routine tasks it is another biggest problem in principals work. Depending on the results of the study and the review of related literature, the following recommendations are put forward. Heavily work load has been found impeding principals’ effort to support the teaching-learning process in their capacity. Administrative assignments other than the official instructional role were absorbing their time and effort. Thus, principals including the concerned body need to inform and influence parents relentlessly for their more involvement in the school affairs. After principals are assigned they should be continuously monitored, guided and helped by more competent and committed bodies. Hence, their skill and knowledge gaps should be continuously assessed, identified and fulfilled. These might through provision of organizing sufficient and pertinent on the job as well as off the job short and long term training on issues like effective educational leadership, transactional and transformational leadership, effective leadership of institutional change and reformation, forms of leadership etc. through combined forms of training.
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Problems of School Leadership