PERCEIVED EFFECTIVENESS OF SCHOOL LEADERSHIP ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF EAST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIYAA REGIONAL STATE

Abstract

The study was initiated to investigate the effectiveness of school leadership on student academic achievement at government secondary schools in the East Hararghie Zone of Ethiopia. Descriptive research methods were used to achieve the objective of the research. The target group of the study was 192 participants working in 6 public secondary schools in the East Hararghie Zone. The sample size consisted of 144 teachers, 6 principals, 30 department heads, 6 unit leaders, and 6 school supervisors working in 6 public secondary schools. We used the simple random sampling technique to select teachers and the availability sampling technique to select the principals, department heads, unit leaders, and school supervisors to be studied. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistical methods such as percentages, tables, means, and weighted means, resulting in a mixed approach. The findings indicate that school leaders are not doing well on the school's vision, mission, and goal for the students' academic achievement, particularly in participating teachers and concerned stakeholders in setting and communicating the vision, mission, and goal for the students' academic achievement. The study also revealed that most leaders, especially school principals, have not given due attention to their role and have failed to report their responsibilities and tasks accomplished to their respective supervisors. The major factors that influenced school leadership effectiveness according to the findings were lack of training, lack of regular supervisory support from the concerned education officials, lack of financial and material support, unwise interference of higher officials in the functions of school leaders, and principals' heavy workload other than instructional leadership. School leaders are advised to do their best in setting a well-communicated school vision, mission, and goals to improve their school outcomes with teachers and concerned stakeholders for the success and effectiveness of school leadership on students academic achievement. And finally, after analysis and conclusions, recommendations based on the results of the study were submitted