Leadership for School Improvement: Analysis of Practices and Problems in West Arsi Zone
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2014-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess practices and problems of leadership towards school
improvement in West Arsi Zone. To this end, basic questions were raised regarding leadership
practices; problems (factors) affecting leadership practices and to what extent do the student
outcomes provide evidence for the schools leadership practices in attaining its goals for
improvement. The study employed descriptive survey design. Out of 32 government schools in the
zone, 8 secondary schools were selected from seven different districts and one administrative
town by purposive sampling technique. students and teachers were selected randomly as
principals, vice principals, department heads, student councils, school management committees,
woreda education officials, Parent Teachers Association committees, and Kebele Education and
Training Board committees members were selected by availability sampling technique. To this
end, 8 principals,17 vice principals,8 department heads,107 teachers and 799 grade ten
students,8 student councils,8 schools’ school management committees, 8 woreda education
officials, 8 Parent Teachers Association committees, and 8 Kebele Education and Training Board
committees members were the sample subjects of the study. Before data collection, and
consistency of the questionnaire was checked by doing appropriate checking and pilot study was
conducted. Data for the study were collected through questionnaires, interviews, focus group
discussion and document analysis. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean,
likert scale was used to analyze the responses of respondents. The findings of the study revealed
that principals’ leadership practices were moderate in teaching-learning, school management
and community participation but good in creating healthy school environment. The moderate
results of the practices of principals show improvement in the practices of school leaders is very
important to maximize their effort. Moreover, different problems were identified from data
qualitatively interpreted as school environment, leaders own personal characteristics, local
community associated, and government side problems. Most of these problems of leadership
practices arisen from community participation gap, principals’ lack of capacity to run the
schools, and resource shortage. Therefore school principals should be trained and empowered in
leadership and special attention should be given to community participation, awareness creation
and empowerment
Description
Keywords
Leadership for School Improvement, Analysis Of Practices