Roles And Challenges of Secondary School Instructional Leadership for the Achievement of Student Learning: The Case of South Gondar Administrative Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study examined the roles and challenges of secondary school instructional leadership for the achievement of student learning in some selected schools in the South Gondar, Ethiopia. The researchers used a descriptive research design of survey type and gathered data through questionnaire and interview. The sample of this study comprises; principals, unit leaders, teachers and students in eight secondary schools in the South Gondar Zone. Thus, one hundred seventy five (175) teachers, seventy five (75) instructional leaders (20 principals, 11 unit leaders & 44 department heads), two hundred eighty five (285) students and eleven (11) officials at regional and district level were selected. Five research questions guided the study. The data collected were analyzed through the computation of percentages. Findings indicated significant relationships between distributed leadership and school goal achievement; teachers’ professional development; instructional programme management; effective teaching and learning; and promotion of school climate which include facilitating and understanding of the lesson, create an interesting environment with high class participation. Based on this finding, school heads/authorities should make it mandatory that distributed leadership should be adopted in such a way that everyone in schools is empowered to make his or her job more efficient, meaningful, and effective.