Principals’ Distributive Leadership Practices and Teachers’ job satisfaction: The Case of Tiro Afata Woreda Primary Schools

Abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate the distributed principal leadership practices and teachers’ job satisfaction in primary schools of Tiro Afata Woreda. In the empirical investigation correlational research design was used. Additionally, both quantitative and qualitative research method was employed and quantitative data collection was done by questionnaire whereas qualitative data were gathered using interview from a total of 328 respondents constituting 296 teachers and 32 principals drawn from 15 sampled primary schools selected using cluster sampling and simple random sampling techniques. Data gathered were analyzed using SPSS computer software version 23 and displayed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. From descriptive statistics, frequency, mean and standard deviation was used. From inferential statistics t-test and Pearson correlation was employed. The findings indicated that distributive leadership style currently in practice by primary school principals of Tiro Afata Woreda was not promising. The study also indicated that distributive leadership dimension mostly practiced was supervision function. The status of teachers’ job satisfaction in the study area was perceived low. There was positive and significant relationship between distributed leadership practice and teachers’ job satisfaction. Finally, Ministry of education, Regional Education Bureau Zonal Education department and Woreda education office are recommended to prepare manuals, and provide training to school principals on the notion of distributed leadership and improving promotion opportunity for teachers. Woreda Education Office is advised to closely monitor and support principals in exercising distributed leadership. Moreover, School principals are suggested to exercise all dimensions of distributed leadership style and also give recognition for teachers’ performance along with motivating and encouraging them toward achieving school goal to increase teachers job satisfaction