Abstract:
The main purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between principals’ leadership
effectiveness and students’ academic achievement in Government Secondary Schools of North Shoa
Zone, Oromia National Regional State. This study employed correlational research design
including Quantitative method. In this study out of 351 target teachers, a total of 281 teachers were
selected by using stratified random sampling technique proportionally. Out of 4017 students who
sat for Grade 10 EGSECE in 2017, 388 students were selected from the sampled schools by using
stratified systematic random sampling technique proportionally. Nine principals and 8 supervisors
were also taken in available way. A standardized questionnaire with five-point Likert scales was
used to measure the leadership effectiveness of principals, whereas CGPA of students on Grade 10
national examination was used to measure students' academic achievement. For this study, the data
gathering tools such as questionnaires, interview, and document analysis were used to collect data
from teachers, principals, and supervisors. Frequency, percentage, means score, standard
deviation, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation and Regression were used to analyze the data. A reliability
test was also performed to check the consistency and accuracy of the measurement scales by using
a Cronbach alpha test through SPSS Version 20. The findings of the study indicated that the level of
principal’s leadership effectiveness was moderately effective. The finding of the level of student
academic achievement was also moderately effective. Again, the findings of the study showed that
there was high significance difference within leadership effectiveness and within a student
academic achievement. The findings of the relationship between principal’s leadership effectiveness
and student academic achievement were positively correlated with low significant. The regression
analysis also shows that, the lower the correlation indicates the lower the prediction on student
academic achievement. Generally there was a direct relationship between school leadership and
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students' academic achievement. Therefore, the researcher recommended that Regional Education
Bureau, Woreda Education Office and School leadership might build the leadership capacities of
the school leaders by providing necessary transformational leadership training and professional
support to improve the results of student academic achievement.
