Practice of school improvement program in government primary schools of illubabor zone yayo woreda

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the existing perceptions, understandings, challenges and practices on SIP Implementation in Government Primary schools of Illubabor Zone Yayo Woreda. It also seeks to explore the role of different stakeholders in the Implementation of SIP. To accomplish this paper; the study employed a descriptive survey method. Qualitative data was used with Qualitative data as supplementary. The study was conducted in 10 sample primary schools of Yayo Woreda. Thenfrom each school teachers were selected by using proportionality simple random samplingtechnique whereas, student representatives, school principals,SIPC chairmen, cluster supervisors and WEO SIP focal person were selected on the purposive basis of decisive position they assume pertaining to the issue. For this study, Questionnaire was used as the main instrument of data collection from teachers and students. .Accordingly, 212 copies were distributed out of which 78 from teachers and 134 fromStudents were properly filled and returned. The Research Methodology employed in the study was both Qualitative and Quantitative approaches. Accordingly, as an instrument in the Quantitative portion Questionnaires was prepared to be filled by teachers,studentrepresentatives and SIP committee members. The study was carried out in Simple random sampling of which proportionality simple random sampling and Purposive methods. Regarding the questionnaire distributed to sample size of 78 teachers ,134 student representatives ,out of 40 distributed questions all were returned ,providing an overall 100% returnrate. Data obtained from Questionnaires were analyzed using statistical tools such aspercentage, mean, standard deviation and Chi-square test. For the Qualitative portion, Interview and observation are administered. The findings of the study revealed that there are weaknesses of participation of stakeholders, lack of commitment and resistances to new systems, lack of regular monitoring evaluation feedback system, From the results of the findings, it was concluded that there was lack of awareness,understanding participation; which resulted that the school improvement program with its four domains in the study area was not implementedasindicatedintheframework . Finally, Recommendations were made based on the findings; the points of the recommendation include ,training opportunities on school improvementprogramforstakeholdersthroughworkshop, seminars and discussion forums about the program, participatory decision making, preparation of action research to solve educational problems and create and maintain aproperly scheduled and organized formal monitoring and evaluation to enhance the school improvement program and student achievement.Moreover,suggestions were forwarded to solve the factors that hinder proper implementation of school improvement program.