Abstract:
The major objective of this study was to assess the capacity of educational leaders to implement
decentralized educational management and
to identity challenges encountered educational
leaders
in southern zone of Tigray at woreda and school levels. To achieve this objective three
research questions related
to the capacity ofprimary school principals PTA, KETB and woreda
education officials, decentralized decision making areas and challenges encountered educational
leaders
to successfully implement the decentralized education system were set. From 7 woredas,
4 woredas were selected using random sampling technique
of lottery system. Then 25 primary
schools were selected using random sampling technique Accordingly,
25 principals were
selected using comprehensive sampling techniques and
75 Mathematic, English and foreign
language department heads were chosen using random sampling techniques
of lottery system. In
... addition 8 WEDs, 8 KETB members and 8 PTA members were included. Data were gathered
~ through questionnaires, interview and document analysis. The questionnaire and interview items
were
develJped by the researchers himself and validated by three psychology and two
educational planning and management post graduate students
of Bahir Dar University. The
questionnaire was distributed
to 25 elementary schools principals and 75 department heads of
the sample schools by the researcher himself with the help of research assistance. From the
distributed questionnaire total
of 15 questionnaires were not properly filled and returned.
Descriptive statistics (weighted mean, percentage and one sample t-test) was employed
to
tabulated, summarized and analysis data obtained from the samples. Thus, this study found out
that woreda education officials were made decentralized decision issues like planning and
structuring, financing, monitoring and evaluating and personnel management. While at school
levels more
of, made decision related with monitoring and evaluation, financing and to some
extent planning and structuring and instructional decision. Educational leaders at woreda and
school level have low capacity
to discharge their responsibilities and to obtaining potential
benefits
of decentralized education system. In addition there was also a budget problem to
discharge educational activities and delay to release allocated budget to primary schools. It was
generally recommended that
for education decentralization to achieve its objectives there is a
need to transfer decision making authority to woreda and local/school levels.
At the same time,
there
is a need to build the capacity of educational leaders those participate at administrative
bodies both at woreda, local and school level. Moreover adequate budget should be allocate and
release on time
if education need to attain the desired goals.