THE PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES OF PRINCIPALS' LEADERSHIP SKILLS, IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF BALE ZONE, OROMIA

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the practices and challenges of principal’s leadership skill in public secondary school of Bale Zone, Oromia Regional State. Pragmatism was employed as an appropriate paradigm to internalize the problem. Mixed research method was used. In addition, concurrent or parallel research design was used. The study has been conducted in 6 woredas considering 17 public secondary school which are found in Bale Zone that were selected by purposive sample method. The respondents were 193 teachers who were selected by systematic sampling selection methods, 17 principals and 15 vice principals were participated by using available sample technique. In addition 6 secondary school supervisor were participated in interview purposefully in order to cross check the answer of the questionnaires that was answered by respondent. The data gathering tools were questionnaires, interview and document analysis and those data was analyzed by using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Percentages, frequency and t-test were used to analyze the data. The result of the study indicate that the current practice of the secondary school principals’ were moderate. School principals have lack in developing a sound school vision for the staff and stakeholder, planning was done without participating staff and stakeholders, giving decision without the rule and regulation based on individual revenge and have also no enough knowledge in preparing different fund rising proposal. The major challenges identified in this study were, lack of induction and training for school principals and principals were influenced by external bodies while in giving decision making process. To overcome these problems, the following recommendations were forwarded. These include, the principals should develop their leadership skill generally on school vision, collaboration in all activities related to school systems. The woreda, zonal education office, Oromia Education Bureau, Madda Walabu University and Robe Teachers’ Colleges also improve the skill of the principals by providing long and short term training to improve leadership skill. The woredas and zonal education office also empower the principals rather than influencing principals in decision making process.
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