Abstract:
The Practices of Teachers’ Involvement in Decision-Making in Government Secondary Schools of Jimma
Town
Desalegn Gemechu
The main purpose of this study was to investigate the practices of teachers’ involvement in school
decision-making of secondary schools of Jimma Town. To conduct this study a descriptive survey method
was employed. A total of 202 respondents (157 teachers, 11 principals, 28 PTAs, 3 educational office and
3 teachers’ association officials) were included in the study. The schools, principals and PTAs were
selected using census. The teacher respondents were selected by systematic random sampling method
while educational office officials and teachers office representatives were selected by purposive sampling
method. The data were gathered through questionnaire, interview and observation. Data gathered
through questionnaire were analyzed using percentage, weighted mean and independent sample t-test.
Data obtained through interview and document analysis were qualitatively analyzed. The study revealed
that teachers’ involvement in all areas of school decision-making of secondary schools in general was
unsatisfactory; and they participated most in issues related to student disciplinary problems and least in
school building. School leaders /Principals’ and PTA practices/ in encouraging teachers’ involvement in
school decision-making was found to be ineffective. Absence of participatory and democratic school
leadership, lack of trust between teachers and principals, lack of training and support, and absence of
financial incentives were some of the factors that were found to have impeded teachers’ involvement in
school decision-making It was thus concluded that teachers role in school decision-making not have been
given due emphases in this study, This is likely to affect the overall activities of school in general and
teaching learning process in particular. Finally, the study called for the need to facilitate condition in
which trained principals in school administrative will be assigned, providing extrinsic reward to teachers
with exemplary performance in their profession, establishing a collaborative relationship among
teachers, treating and motivating all teachers equally and the school leaders /principals and PTA Should
communicate and give clear information on the issues related with school planning, income generation
and school budget and school building to develop the sense of transparency in between teachers and
school leaders were also some of the major recommendations forwarded in order to improve teachers’
involvement in school decision-making
