The practices of teachers’ involvement in decision-making in government secondary schools of Jimma Town

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the practices of teachers’ involvement in school decision-making of secondary schools of Jimma Town. To conduct this study a descriptive survey method was employed. A total of 202 respondents (157 teachers, 11 principals, 28 PTAs, 3 educational office and 3 teachers’ association officials) were included in the study. The schools, principals and PTAs were selected using census. The teacher respondents were selected by systematic random sampling method while educational office officials and teachers office representatives were selected by purposive sampling method. The data were gathered through questionnaire, interview and observation. Data gathered through questionnaire were analyzed using percentage, weighted mean and independent sample t-test. Data obtained through interview and document analysis were qualitatively analyzed. The study revealed that teachers’ involvement in all areas of school decision-making of secondary schools in general was unsatisfactory; and they participated most in issues related to student disciplinary problems and least in school building. School leaders /Principals’ and PTA practices/ in encouraging teachers’ involvement in school decision-making was found to be ineffective. Absence of participatory and democratic school leadership, lack of trust between teachers and principals, lack of training and support, and absence of financial incentives were some of the factors that were found to have impeded teachers’ involvement in school decision-making It was thus concluded that teachers role in school decision-making not have been given due emphases in this study, This is likely to affect the overall activities of school in general and teaching learning process in particular. Finally, the study called for the need to facilitate condition in which trained principals in school administrative will be assigned, providing extrinsic reward to teachers with exemplary performance in their profession, establishing a collaborative relationship among teachers, treating and motivating all teachers equally and the school leaders /principals and PTA Should communicate and give clear information on the issues related with school planning, income generation and school budget and school building to develop the sense of transparency in between teachers and school leaders were also some of the major recommendations forwarded in order to improve teachers’ involvement in school decision-making.