PREPARATION AND UTILIZATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL PLANNING IN GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF WEST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE

Abstract

This research focuses on studying the preparation and utilization of instructional planning in government secondary schools of West Hararghe Zone, Oromia Regional State. In this study, descriptive survey design was used with both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Among the 34 government secondary schools in the Zone, eight (23.5%) were taken as a sample by using stratified sampling technique depending on life style (periphery and center). The sample teachers, 136 (50%), were selected by using systematic random sampling technique. Additionally, 8 school principals, 11 vice principals, 29 department heads, and 8 secondary school supervisors were selected by available sampling technique. The instruments of data collection were questionnaires, semi-structured interview, observation and document analysis. The quantitative data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics (such as frequency, percentage) and inferential statistics such as chi-square at 0.05 level of significance to compare the two groups (teachers and school leaders). The qualitative data gathered were analyzed qualitatively through thematization and conceptualization. The major findings of the study revealed that: teachers did not prepare and utilize instructional plan on time, they have negative attitudes towards the instructional plan; they perceived preparation of instructional plan as something that make them busy; lack of provision the necessary instructional materials format by school leaders; lack of encouraging teachers by school leaders to use instructional plan in classroom. The school leaders did not make follow-up and guide the process of instructional planning. Based on these findings, improper use of time as well as inability to cover the portion of text-book on time and also less day-to-day utilization of instructional plan within the classroom were the dominant problems exhibited in the sample secondary schools. So, the preparation and utilization of instructional plan in secondary schools were low.As far as opportunities created to teachers in improving teaching and learning activities concerned, the finding of the study indicated that experience sharing with staff member for improving the knowledge and skill of teachers. Additionally the presence of instructional plan format and provide the necessary materials like teachers guide, syllabus, pen and paper as well as presence of technical support and guidance in the schools were the major opportunities created to teachers of secondary schools of Western Hararghe Zone in improving teaching and learning activities. In general, as the finding of the study revealed that secondary school teachers of West Hararghe Zone were not effective in preparation and utilization of instructional plan although there were opportunities. Therefore, it is recommended that training program should be given to all teachers; continuous follow-up during formal or informal supervision time should be organized by the school leaders and Woreda Education Office