PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES OF LEADING TEAM IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF WEST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE

Abstract

This research focuses on studying the Practice and Challenges of Leading Team in Secondary Schools of West Hararghe Zone, as perceived by teachers and principals. In this study, descriptive survey design was used with quantitative and qualitative approaches. Among the 34 government secondary schools in the Zone, eight (23.5%) were taken as a sample by using stratified random sampling technique depending on periphery and center. The sample teachers, 90 (35%), were selected by using systematic random sampling technique. Additionally, 8 school principals, 11 vice principals, 27 department heads, 8 secondary school supervisor and 8 PTSA Chairs were selected by available sampling technique. The instruments of data collection were questionnaires, and semi-structured interview. The quantitative data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics such as T-test to compare the two groups (teachers and school leaders). The qualitative data gathered were analyzed qualitatively through narrative. The finding of the study revealed that the school leaders were passive to practice teamwork in school. The school leaders were performing different tasks alone in school and did not create conducive environment for teamwork. Some of the challenges which affect the school leaders in leading team were weak participation of school leader and teachers in teamwork, lack of monitoring and evaluation from the wored and zonal education bureau and lack of commitment and communication among teachers and school leaders. Making organized and participatory plan for teamwork, delegating responsibility, giving teamwork training and creating conducive environment for teamwork were some of the strategies that the principals used to develop effective teamwork in school. Furthermore, the study clearly showed that the concept of teamwork among team members is positively received, encouraging and may provide a sound foundation on which to leading team in school