The practice of instructional leadership in secondary schools of metekel zone: benishangul gumuz region state

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.