Abstract:
The objective of this study was to assess the school leadership effectiveness in implementing school improvement programs in Seto Eddo primary school in Jimma Town. Among 17 government primary schools found in Jimma Town, Seto Eddo was taken as sample by using purposive sampling technique. From total population of 54 teachers, 26 (48.1%) teachers were selected by using simple random sampling technique. Additionally, 1 primary school external supervisor, 1 school principal and 2 vice principal were selected by census sampling techniques. Finally, 4 PTA representatives were included by using purposive sampling techniques. In this study descriptive survey design was used with both quantitative and qualitative methods. The instruments of data collection were taken questionnaires, and semi structured interview. The quantitative data were analyzed by using frequency, percentages, and mean. The data gathered was interviews were analyzed qualitatively through explanatory method for the purpose of triangulation. The major findings of the study are: low performance of primary school leaders in implementing school improvement program ,low performance in the preparation stage of SIP, Primary school leaders of Jimma Town did at an average level were ‘teaching and learning’ and ‘safe and healthy school environment’, primary school leaders was not adequately preparing themselves and other responsible stakeholders with important financial and material resources before implementation of SIP and these problems in turn affected the implementation of SIP in the primary school Seto Eddo .Regarding challenges: inadequate financial resources, inadequate man power in the schools, insufficient and inconsistent communication among leaders and the staff, low level of commitment of school leaders, low support from parents and community, lack of technical skills in school improvement program preparation, scarcity of frameworks and guidelines of SIP in school was some of the challenges of primary school leaders in implementing SIP. In general, as the finding of the study revealed that at Seto Eddo primary school leaders of Jimma Town were not effective in implementing some domains of school improvement program. Therefore, it is recommended that Woreda education Offices in collaboration with Zone Education Offices of Jimma Town would give sustainable technical assistance including training for school leaders and Woreda education offices in collaboration with school leaders need to enhance community participation. Finally, the Woreda education office is advised to promote and sustain the upgrading training system of primary school leaders to capacitate them with adequate technical and administrative skills.
