LEADERSHIP PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTING SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AT FELEGE YORDANOS SCHOOL

Abstract

Effective leadership is crucial for driving change and elevating education”. This study has examined the leadership practices and challenges encountered during the implementation on School Improvement Programs (SIP) at Felege Yordanos School in Addis Ababa City, Ethiopia. The study has focused on addressing gaps in localized research on school improvement initiatives by examining the perspectives of various stakeholders, including school leaders, teachers, parents, and students. By integrating these perspectives, the research aims to offer a multifaceted understanding of SIP implementation challenges within a specific Ethiopian school context. Data collection methods such as closed-ended questionnaires, observation checklists, document analysis, open-ended questions, and semi-structured interviews were employed to gather and analyze data. The interpretation of the data was conducted using both quantitative (descriptive statistics) and qualitative analysis techniques to provide a comprehensive understanding of the leadership practices and challenges in implementing the SIP at Felege Yordanos School. The data collected through closed ended types questions has been tallied, tabulated and filled in to SPSS version 25 and the interpretation has been made in different groups. In addition, these data were analyzed and interpreted with the help of descriptive statistics such as percentage, mean and standard deviation. Key findings of the study include identified leadership practices such as forming a school improvement committee, conducting needs assessments, and developing strategic plans. Challenges faced by school leaders include the lack of skill and knowledge consideration in forming the SIP committee and inadequate awareness among stakeholders about SIP. The study recommends enhancing the skills and knowledge of the SIP committee members, improving awareness among stakeholders, and fostering consensus-building processes within the school community to address the identified challenges. Overall, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of school leadership dynamics and provides insights for improving SIP implementation and educational improvement initiatives in the Ethiopian context.