Abstract:
The intention of this study was to assess the practices and challenges of human resource management
in government secondary schools of Eastern Hararge Zone. To conduct this study, mixed research
design method was employed. Among the 16 government secondary schools found in the Zone, 8 of
them were selected by simple random sampling as sample schools. The samples of the study were 104
teachers and 54 administrative workers have participated in the study through available sampling
technique. The 8 principals were included for interview respondents using available sampling
technique. Questionnaire was used as main tool of data collection. Interview and document review
were used to substantiate the data gathered through questionnaire. Frequencies, percentage, mean and
independent t-test was utilized to analyze quantitative data gained through the questionnaire and to
compare mean of the two groups (Teaching staff and non-teaching staff). The qualitative data gathered
through interview and document review were analyzed by narration. The findings revealed that the
underutilization, mismatch assign of administrative workers and some teachers loaded period. As
respondents revealed, the employees were not as good as motivated by the school administration, and
also the school administration failed to practice performance appraisal of teachers in the school for
promotion of the staff. Human resource management was a requirement to be practiced in schools as a
means to meet the individual needs of the teacher and administrative worker for the sake of training
improvement. To this end, it is recommended for human resource management, match assign of
administrative worker and balance the period allotted of teachers. School administration to create an
opportunity in implementing various human resource management options in relation to the individual
teachers and administrative worker developmental levels and needs. The scarcity of teachers for
subjects in the school and heavy work load could be offer solution by woreda Educational Office and
Zonal Education Departments.
