EFFECTIVENESS OF SCHOOL LEADERSHIP IN IMPLEMENTING SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF WEST ARSI ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of school leadership in implementing school improvement programs in secondary schools of West Arsi Zone. In this study, descriptive survey research was used with both quantitative and qualitative methods. Among the 44 government secondary schools found in the Zone, 6 (35%) schools were taken as a sample by using simple randam sampling technique. The sample teachers 116 were selected by using proportional sampling technique. Additionally, 6 secondary school supervisors, 6 school principals and 6 vice principals were selected by available sampling technique. Finally, 6PTA representatives and 12 student council were included by using purposive sampling technique. The instruments of data collection were questionnaires, semistructured interview, observation and document analysis. The data were analyzed by using frequency, percentages, mean and standard deviation. As the finding of the study revealed secondary school leaders of West Arsi Zone performed at an average level in areas such as ‘teaching and learning’ and ‘safe and healthy school environment’. Thus, secondary school leaders did not adequately preparing themselves and other responsible stakeholders with important financial and material resources before implementation of SIP and these problems in turn affected the implementation of SIP in the secondary schools of the west Arsi zone. Regarding challenges, inadequate financial resources, inadequate man power in the schools, insufficient and inconsistent communication among leaders and the staff, low level of commitment of school leaders, low support from parents and community, lack of technical skills in school improvement program preparation, scarcity of frameworks and guidelines of SIP in schools were some of the challenges secondary school leaders face in implementing SIP. In general, as the finding of the study revealed secondary school leaders of West Arsi zone were not effective in implementing some domains of school improvement program. Therefore, it is recommended that Wored education Offices in collaboration with Zone Education Offices and Regional Education Bureau should give sustainable technical assistance including training for school leader