Kedir, Hussien(PhD)Wayu, Jemal2018-08-092023-11-052018-08-092023-11-052014-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/11398The 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 empowermentenLeadership for School ImprovementAnalysis Of PracticesThesis