Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to assess the practices of instructional leadership and the
challenges that instructional leaders face in performing their duties in secondary school of
Metekel zone. The study particularly treated the dimensions of effective instructional leadership
in explaining mission, vision and goals, promoting professional skill development, managing
curriculum, supervision and instruction, monitoring students’ progress and fostering teaching
and learning climate and factors that affect the instructional leaders in performing their
activities in the school. To conduct this research, the study employed a descriptive survey
method. The study was carried out in seven secondary schools of Metekel zone selected using
simple random sampling technique. Then 82(35%) teachers were selected using random
sampling technique, and 28 department heads using purposive sampling. All the principals and
vice-principals interviewed were selected using purposive sampling. Questionnaire was the
major instruments of data collection. Semi-structured interview also used to triangulate the data
gained through the questionnaire descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage was
used to analyze the data. The result of the study indicated that, the instructional leaders: were
not explaining the school's mission, vision and goals; were not promoting teachers professional
development; were not managing school curriculum and instruction; were not monitoring and
evaluating students progress; were not fostering teaching and learning school climate; and
instructional leaders faced many challenges. Finally, to minimize and solve the problems it is
recomeded to arrange professional training; to arrange short term training; experience sharing
;giving adequate time; and conducting further investigations on the challenges that affect school
principals.
