Abstract:
The main objective of the study is to assess the support of school leadership on the academic
achievement of students in the selected secondary schools of Jimma zone. To achieve the
intended objective descriptive survey method was used with quantitative and qualitative
data collecting approaches for the study. Questionnaire and interview were used as the data
collecting instrument for the study. The collected data were analyzed into percentiles, mean
and standard deviation in descriptive statistical analysis .Pearson correlation was used to
analyze the relation between the support of school leadership and the academic achievement
of students in the secondary schools. On the basis of analysis made of the study the findings
of this study were identified. The result of the study revealed that the support that provided to
teachers regarding the use of instructional materials had improved academic achievement of
students in the secondary school. Similarly the result of the study indicated that qualities
that exhibited in school leaders’ were conducted progress monitoring on the teacher learning
process, engaged teachers in the school activities, understood activities that had been done by
the teachers, created unit among the staff, managed educational resources to improve the
achievement of students, organized human resources, material resources and financial
resources for the quality of teaching and learning process. The result of the study also showed
that the extent at which the school leaders provided support to teachers regarding the use of
instructional materials was medium and relationship between the school leaders practice and
academic achievement of students in the secondary school was strong since the result of the
Pearson Correlation was .785**. Based on the above findings recommendations were given
for the study. Recommendations that were given for the study were: school principal should
provide support to teachers regarding the use of instructional materials to improve academic
achievement of students in the secondary school effectively, should have leadership qualities
to lead the schools at required level and support that will be given to teachers regarding the
use of instructional materials should be raised at high level.
