Leadership Roles in Managing Education in Crisis at Addis Ababa University During Covid-19 Pandemic
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2021-08
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AAU
Abstract
The purpose of this study was aimed to assess the leadership role in managing education in
crisis at AAU during covid-19 pandemic. A mixed research method of study was employed to
reveal the leadership role in managing education in crisis at AAU during covid-19 pandemic.
The sample population involved AAU academic staff members and students who were selected
using stratified simple random and purposive sampling techniques. In this study, both primary
and secondary sources of data were used. The primary sources were the AAU academic staff
members and students. Secondary sources such as books, journals, and reports prepared by AAU
were considered. As far as, data collection instruments (questionnaire, document analysis, and
interview) were adapted. The questionnaire was pilot-tested and modified. The questionnaire
was distributed and completed by 384 staff members and students of AAU making a sample size
of 384. Out of these,327 (85%) are filed in and collected back. The data gathered were analyzed
using such statistical tools as percentage, mean, frequency, cross tabulation, standard deviation
and t-test. The result of the study showed that the role of leaders in managing education during
covid-19 was good but still needs further action to bring quality education. The result of the
study also portrayed that the university sets strategies to manage education, but as results of
teacher’s negative perception on e-learning and students’ technological capability,
infrastructure problems AAU strategy was not executed properly and the execution was not
satisfactory. Therefore, it may be concluded that leaders failed in managing education, causing
deterioration of quality of education. Hence, it was recommended that leader in a crisis better be
collaborative and also look to be sensibly hierarchical. There are times when university leaders
need to wait and take advice from government, system-level leaders and first responders. Within
the university, a well-formed crisis management team brings a cross section of perspectives to a
problem, and reduces the risk of missing certain voices. As the result of negative perception of
teachers on e-learning and capability problems, it is also suggested that the AAU leaders in
collaboration with other stake holders required providing adequate training to its academic
staffs and students on using of technology to facilitate teaching learning process.
Description
Keywords
crisis, crisis management, and managing education in crisis