QUALITATIVE INQUIRY INTO THE PRACTICE OF INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Educational or school outcomes are strongly associated with the quality and/or relevance of leadership style used by principals and its possible influence on the level of teacher job satisfaction. To attain the goals of the school, the principal needs to engage in an effective leadership style to inspire and encourage teachers. The aim of this study is to investigate the public school leadership practice in the theoretical view of instructional leadership and transformational leadership styles. Both theories have been found to encompass leadership practices that enhance teacher job satisfaction and student achievement. Qualitative case study research design was used to investigate the issue. The study participants were selected purposefully from the public school principals and teachers. In this research 34 participants were selected, 24 teaches and 10 principals from the 65 schools. The research participants were interviewed using the semi-structure interview quastions. The data analysis was done concurrently with the interview sessions were takes place. ATLASti version8 was used to organized and generate the codes and themes of the study. Based on the themes the study results were discussed. Addis Ababa public school principals were not fully implemented the instructional leadership and transformational leadership behaviors. The school leadership and management practice was interfered by politicians to execute ruling party interest in the school. Principals were not assigned by their profession and performance, afflation to the ruling party was mandatory to be the school principal. As the result of this teachers were not satisfied and motivated. Teaching and learning was not effectively supported by the school leaders. Thus, study participants perceived that the school leadership was traditional and not practice effective school leadership style like instructional and transformational leaderships style. The study participants stated that transformational leadership behaviour and instructional leadership style have a positive impact on teacher job satisfaction, work commitment and better school performance. In this study, as suggested by the teachers, transformational leadership is a favourable leadership style in order for schools to become effective in their activities. They also agreed that such leadership behaviour is strongly related to improving student achievement.