Abstract:
The main objective of this study was to assess practices and challenges of school leaders in
motivating teachers in secondary schools of Dire Dawa City Administration. The study
employed a descriptive survey design. The study was carried out in ten secondary schools
of Dire Dawa City Administration. The total population of the study was 240 respondents.
Among them 215 teachers were selected through simple random sampling technique,
especially lottery method. In addition, 20 school leaders and 5 secondary school
supervisors were included through purposive sampling technique. Questionnaires,
interviews and document analysis were the main instruments of data collection. The
analysis of the data was carried out by using frequency, percentages, mean, standard
deviation and independent sample T-test. The findings of the study revealed that school
leaders provide and communicate vision and objectives in a good manner. School leader’s
challenges such as a lack of qualification and experience, lack of resources, work
overload, lack of cooperation and commitment and lack of organization affected practices
of the teacher’s motivation. In addition to this, strategies for motivating teachers have not
been designed in collaborative manner with teachers and school leaders. In general, one
would conclude that school leaders were not motivating teachers in secondary schools of
Dire Dawa City Administration. Based on the findings, it is recommended that school
leaders should develop a strategy to create awareness on teachers’ motivation. The
discouraging process in school like participation in decision-making should be modified.
