Teachers
Teachers
Teachers
Resarch Propozal
Azeb Getahun
Junuary, 2022
Hrarmaya, Ethiopia
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MoE-Ministry of Education
OCB-: Organizational Citizenship Behavior
OREB:-Oromia Regional Education Bureaus
PDM:-Participatory Decision Making
PTA:-Parent Teacher Association
SBM:-School Based Management
SIPS:-chool Improvement Program
SPSS:-Statistical Package for Social Science
WEO:-Werada Education Offices
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Table of Contents
1.1. Background of the Study ..................................................................................................... 5
1.3. Research Questions .............................................................................................................. 9
1.4. Objective of the Study ....................................................................................................... 10
1.4.1. General Objective ....................................................................................................... 10
1.4.2. Specific Objectives ..................................................................................................... 10
1.5. Significance of the Study ................................................................................................... 10
1.6. Delimitation of the Study ................................................................................................... 11
1.7. Definition of Key Terms .................................................................................................... 11
2.REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ................................................................................. 12
2.1. Concepts of Decision Making in Education ...................................................................... 12
2.2. Models of Decision Making............................................................................................... 13
2.2.1. Motivational Model .................................................................................................... 13
2.2.2. Cognitive Model ......................................................................................................... 14
2.3. Extent of Teachers Involvement in Decision–Making ...................................................... 15
2.4. Rationale for Teachers’ Participation in School Decision Making ................................... 16
2.5. Areas of Teachers’ Involvement in Decision–Making ...................................................... 17
2.5.1. Teachers Participation in School Improvement Program ........................................... 18
2.5.1.1. Learning and teaching domain ................................................................................. 18
2.5.1.2. Favorable learning condition and environment ....................................................... 19
2.5.1.3. School leadership and management ......................................................................... 20
2.5.1.4. Community participation. ........................................................................................ 21
2.5.2. Participation in School Activities’ Planning ................................................................... 22
2.5.3. School Budget and Income Generation .......................................................................... 23
2.5.4. Students’ Affair and School Discipline .......................................................................... 23
2.6. Factors Affecting Teachers’ Participation in Decision Making ............................................ 25
2.6.1. Leadership Related Factors ............................................................................................. 25
2.6.1.1 Behaviors of Leadership ........................................................................................... 25
2.6.1.2. Leadership Styles ..................................................................................................... 26
2.6.2. Delegation of Authority and Responsibility ................................................................... 27
2.6.3. Communication ............................................................................................................... 28
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1.INTRODUCTION
This research proposal contains five sections. The first section encompasses background of the
research, statement of the problem, significance of the study, scope of the study. The second
sections deals with review of literature relevant to the research. The third section discuss about
research design and methodology. The fourth and fifth section contains time schedule and budget
Teachers’ participation in school decision making is mandatory for the attainment of schools’
organizational objectives in democratic ways (Wadesago, 2011). This means that all stakeholders
including teachers must be given the opportunity to play their defined and legitimate roles
(Mokoena, 2011). Therefore teachers, that are important human resources in schools, must be
part of the decision making process. The present real situations in secondary schools showed
that some teachers had a greater participation while others do not want to involve. It is the
responsibility of the educational administrator to identify the capabilities and interest of
individuals and assign each staff member according to the desired level of participation (Drah,
2011).
Participatory decision making process of teachers leads to the real improvement of school and
academic achievement of students in schools Wadesago (2012). Participating teachers in the
school management system has various advantages. First, it reduces inequalities among teachers.
Second, brings change on the management, and important effects on teachers’ performance and
students learning by making teachers more accountable to their community (Wadesango and
Bayaga, 2013). Jung (2014) revised from various researches that School Based Management has
positive effects. In addition he was found that teachers’ satisfaction with their job is higher in
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schools that School Based Management was implemented, and it created greater commitment to
the school among teachers. However, different researchers around the world identified
controversial results on the implementation and effect of teachers’ participation in secondary
schools decision- Making processes. For instance, Mokoena (2011) conducted a research in
South African secondary schools and found that principals hinderd the proper implementation of
participatory decision making. Olorunsola and Olayemi (2011) examined teachers’ involvement
in decision-making process in secondary schools in Nigeria. In this descriptive study it was
found that secondary school teachers significantly involved in decision making processes. It was
also identified that teachers’ participation varies according to their experience and sex. Another
study from South Africa Wadesago (2012) found that the influence of insignificant teachers’
participation in critical school issues result in low staff morale. A study from neighboring
country Kenya by Kiprop and Kandie (2012) revealed that teachers’ participation in decision-
making in Kenyan secondary schools were very low; teachers did not participate in decision-
making as desired. All of the above studies recommended that teachers’ participation in decision-
making must be encouraged and creating awareness for the stakeholders found crucial.
In Ethiopia, different researches have been conducted that focus on investigating the existence of
Participatory decision making of teachers in secondary schools. The study by Workneh (2012)
examined the extent to which the involvement of different stakeholders in school impact upon
critical decision making at school level. He examined that the Ethiopian Education policy
suggested the head teachers to lead the activities of various stakeholders involved in school
decision-making should be empowered. The finding also confirmed that the attempt to
strengthen PDM and administration had made good progress.
The researcher has not come across local research conducted in Haramaya Woreda to identify
teachers’ participation in school decision making processes. The researcher observed that
teachers were working with a minimum effort in order to cope with participatory decision
making at school level. Hence, to convince this idea, this study will be examine teachers’
participation in school decision making in secondary schools of Haramaya Woreda.
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Schools struggle with strong pressure from rapidly changing of external and internal
environments and the needs of an ever-evolving global economy. These pressures are creating
new demands on schools to produce effective students with skill to compete (Moran, 2009). To
cope with these objectives, improving the quality of school effectiveness through the
mobilization of teachers and providing them opportunities to participate in school decision–
making. In this regard, the following concepts should be taken into consideration as related
problems which hinder teachers’ participation in school decision making issues: principals’
leadership behavior and style, communication, motivation and factors related to teachers
themselves.
School Principals behavior and leadership styles is one of the factors that impede teachers’
participation in school decision making. Ethiopian Education and training policy gives authority
for principals to participate other stakeholders in decision-making (MoE,1994), however; Some
school principals were considered themselves as if they are the only people with knowledge and
authority to make decisions, As a result they govern the schools alone and hardly involved
teachers in school management. In the conclusionof the study conducted by Balcha (2012) it was
revealed that, participatory decision making was not practiced because of autocratic type of
leadership in secondary schools of Bale Zone. In addition this research intensify that teachers
were not interested in decision made by school leaders which was resulted in teachers’ low
perception in decision making and less exposed to gain leadership quality.
teachers’ role in most of secondary schools is nothing but that is passive participants concerning
their job security, productivity and for general improvement of the school. Without teachers’
participation in school decision making, achieving quality of education and school goals might
be nightmare. Olorunsola and Olayemi (2011) stated their observation as follow: It has been
observed that teachers are central in the management of schools and their involvement in
decision making process is such a sensitive issue in schools that neglect of it by the principals
could cause a lot of rift, conflict, misgiving and hindrance to the realization of the objectives of
the school goals.
Teachers and other staff members can be influenced by the level of motivation at work (Lin, Y.
J., 2014). Because of intrinsic and extrinsic situation, teachers move away from participatory
decision making activities (Kiprop and Kandic, 2012). Therefore, the school principals and vice
principals should not only have some knowledge of the staff but should also bear in mind factors
which can enhance or weaken motivation as it is the engine of activity implementation.
In researchers experience some teachers have knowledge, skill and attitude gap to participate in
decision making processes at school level. Due to their resistance to change, attitude to directed
and controlled and perceive themselves as if they were neglected some teachers were not ready
to accept change, prefer to remain on the sideline and show noncommitment to their work (Drah,
2011). Thus, most teachers do not put in their best to have full sense of commitment and
dedication for the implementation of school goals.
As far as the researcher’s knowledge is concerned, in the search efforts made the researcher find
two previous works done towards teachers’ participation in secondary schools decision making
processes. The related researches the researcher had come across in Oromia Reginal state were
Balcha (2012) and Desalegn (2014) who conducted research on teachers’ participation in
secondary schools of Bale zone and Jimma town respectively. These researches were explored
the current status of teachers involvement in different decision making areas such as planning,
curriculum and instruction, school policies, rules and regulations, school budget and income
generation, school building and students affaire and school discipline to reflect teachers
involvement in decision making in their zone secondary schools implementation practices.
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In Oromia Regional State in Haramaya Woreda, researcher dicome across a study conducted on
teachers’ participation in school decision making in secondary schools. So, the researchers will
be used the research conducted in Bale zone by Balcha, (2012) and Jimma town by Desalegn,
(2014) as a base for his study. This studies will be revealed the importance of teachers to
participate in school decision making processes to school principals and their staff to understand
their school decision making practices and strive towards developing an exemplary and yet
inspiring practices of decision making that promotes and signifies teaching and learning through
effective school management practices. In both studies it was concluded that teachers’
participation was not to the needed requirement. The researcher in his study wants to justify that
if there is the same prevalence in research area he as a study area in relation to teachers’
participation in secondary schools decision making processes.
In general, the researcher in his experience observed that school Principals’ and PTA practices in
encouraging teachers’ participation in school decision-making was ineffective. In addition, he
also observed, absence of participatory and democratic school leadership, lack of trust between
teachers and principals manifested in nagging between teachers and school leaders in secondary
schools of Harmaya Woreda. This is why the researcher inspired to look the problem more
closely and initiated to conduct this study to assess the practices of teachers participation in
secondary of Harmaya Woreda. All the above mentioned reasons initiate the researcher to
conduct this research and to forward the reasons for their reluctance on teachers’ participation in
school decision in secondary schools of Harmaya Woreda .
What strategies should be devised in order to improve teachers’ participation in school decision
making processes in Harmaya Woreda?
1.4. Objective of the Study
1.4.1. General Objective
The main objective of this study is to assess teachers’ participation in decision making process in
secondary schools of Harmaya Woreda .
1.4.2. Specific Objectives
The specific objectives of the study are:
1) To assess the extent of teachers participation in school decision making processes in secondary
schools of Harmaya Woreda.
2) To identify areas of teachers’ participation in school decision making processes in secondary
schools of Harmaya Woreda.
3) To identify factors hindering teachers’ participation in school decision making in secondary
schools of Harmaya Woreda.
4) To recommend what should be done to improve teachers’ participation in school decision
making process.
topics in Haramaya Woreda or elsewhere by indicating problem in the research area of the
study.
This section provides a comprehensive review of the related literature on different aspect of
teachers’ participation in school decision–making. It comprises concepts, models, process, areas
and rationale for teachers’ participation in decision-making. This review considers the factors
that affect teachers’ participation in school decision-making. It also emphasizes on the role of
principals in participative decision–making.
2.1. Concepts of Decision Making in Education
Various authors define decision making differently by focusing on the process involved during
decision making, by emphasizing the steps followed during a decision making and by focusing
on the participants involved in decision making. Coleman (2005) defines decision–making as the
process of specifying the nature of particular problem and selecting among available alternatives
in order to solve the problem. This definition of decision–making indicates that a problem
precedes any decision and that there must be a number of alternative courses of action from
which an optimum course will be selected. Similarly, Law and Glover (2003) have stated as the
decision making may be view as the process by which individuals or groups select a course of
action from among alternatives to produce a desired result.
Decisions are a composite of values, facts, and assumptions. Each or all of these may be subject
to change from time to time. Decision making, therefore, is not a onetime activity but rather a
continuing activity (Okumbe, 1998). In researchers view also for different decision making
activities implementations in needed time first activities should be identified, there should be
participatory planning, participatory implementation, there should be evaluation and feedback
provision trends. Decision involve policies (the definition of objectives), resources (people,
money materials, and authority), and means of execution (integration and synthesis). In so far as
the value content of this type of decision is concerned, the school principal should identify two
major values; policy decision that seek purposive action; executing decision that seek
coordination’s of action (White, 1992).
organization principals who lead schools have to made decisions at every managerial processes
in the organization. But, in researchers view the decision making processes at every managerial
functions of the schools are not practical. Coleman’s idea is also supported by (Jonse R. and
George M, 2009) since they stated as decision–making is applied in any of the organizational
activities.To sum-up, the definition, decision making is a sequential process ending in a single
decision or series of decisions (choices) which stimulate or forced to some actions. Every
successful organization must make decisions that enable the organization to achieve its goal and
which meet the critical needs of members of the organization because decision making is
cumulative and consultative process. Decisions are made daily in school about the conduct of
work, the distribution of resources, and short term goals. Decision makings often have to decide
on what is to be done, who to do it, and when and where is to be done.
2.2. Models of Decision Making
Theories have advanced a variety of models to account for the positive effect of PDM on school
and teachers performance through which participation exercises its effects. In relation to this
there are two main types of models: motivational (affective) and cognitive (Somech. 2010).
2.2.1. Motivational Model
Participatory decision making is a motivational technique used as a means of raising job
satisfaction, which in turn fosters school outcomes (Durham et al., 1997). With respect to the
educational setting PDM promotes school and teacher outcomes through two motivational
mechanisms: organizational commitment and teacher empowerment (Somech, 2005).The
motivational factor of commitment validates motivational theories that emphasize identification
and self-control as central motivational factors (Latham and Pinder, 2005). PDM provides
teachers the opportunity to be involved in and exert influence on decision-making processes.
Teachers’ participation is believed to promote commitment to the decisions that are made and to
increase willingness to execute them in their work.
Therefore, active participation enhances involvement and commitment, because individuals tend
to place greater trust in, and accept more readily, information discovered by them (Fullan,
1997).Participation might satisfy human growth needs of self-determination and selfactualization
through mechanisms to promote school and teacher outcomes. Evidence on the role of teacher
organizational commitment and empowerment as motivational mediators in the relationship of
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PDM to school and teacher outcomes are inconsistent. For example, Wu and Short (1996) and
Somech (2005) found a positive link between PDM was significantly and positively associated
with teacher empowerment. Accordingly, the author concluded that teacher empowerment serves
as a motivational mechanism that mediates the relation of the participative approach to school
and teacher outcomes.
2.2.2. Cognitive Model
More recently, scholars have suggested that the most consistent benefits of PDM lie in the
cognitive realm (Sagie et al., 2002). Cognitive models suggest that participatory decision making
is a viable strategy because it enhances the flow and use of important information in
organizations (Guzzo, 1996). If information flows freely among staff, strong relation will be
created in school teachers and principals that can base for more teachers participation in different
decision making issues. Theories supporting such models (Durham et al., 1997) propose that
teachers typically have more complete knowledge of their work than management; so if teachers
participate in decision making, decisions will be made with a better pool of information.
Participative processes may engage teachers in the types of open and collaborative interactions
most conducive to learning and change (Smylieet al., 1996). Consequently, these cognitive
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mechanisms have the potential to promote school and teacher outcomes. Latham and
Lynne,(1994) and Durham et al., (1997) demonstrated that even where no motivational effect of
PDM is present, the cognitive processes help in enhancing organizational and employees’
outcomes. In sum, the motivational and the cognitive models are not mutually exclusive, but
each emphasizes a different explanatory mechanism, and all play important roles in the
participative process
School Outcomes
Cogniti Productivity
ve
Mechanism
Innovation
Organizational
Citizenship
PDM Behavior
OCB
( )
Motivational
Teachers Out comes
Mechanism
Job satisfaction
Strain
Some research findings have described areas of decision–making under which teachers take great
personal interest. Owens, R.G. (1998), for example, has also pointed out that, when dealing with
problems that fall within “staffs’ zone sensitivity”, there is a prevalence of high degree of
participation in a group decision making process. On the other hand, if issue or problems are
located in teacher “zone of indifference’, participation will be less effective (Hoy, W. and
Miskel, C.G. 1991).
Bridge (cited in Gortoon, 1997) bas pointed out that, individuals or groups are usually intending
to participate in the process of decision-making wherever they feel that the degree of teachers’
participation is directly related to how well certain pre-requisite conditions are met. Some of this
involvement pre-requisite occurs in the participants while others exist in the environment. So, the
knowledge, skills, attitude of the teachers and the school climate affect the extent of teachers’
participation in decision making processes.
As studies suggests in many cases, the extent to which teachers’ participation can be influenced
by certain prerequisites. In this regard, Davis, K. and Newstorm, A. (1994) have identified some
major conditions that may exist in both the participants and their environment. These are: time
to participate before action is required, the potential benefits of participation should be greater
than its cost, the subject of participants must be relevant and interesting to the employees, The
participants must be able to mutually communicate, so as to exchange idea, neither party should
feel that its position is threatened by participation and participation for deciding a course of
action must be within the area of job freedom. Thus, the way an individual involves in school
decision–making process may influence the extent of participation, and the move his/her
participation is direct, the higher his power to influence the issue under consideration.
leadership and community participations and other areas such as school activities’ planning,
School budget and income generation and students’ affair and school discipline
Teachers are the main actors among the stakeholders in the improvement of schools and growing
of student outcome. Hence, they should have professional code of ethics and discharge their
responsibility accordingly (MoE, 2012).This is to say that by being model, skillful and
knowledgeable person teachers can shape students in needed way. Teachers should have the
academic knowledge required to teach their subjects efficiently and they plan and implement the
teaching task. In this case, the Ethiopian Education Sector Development program III Action Plan
emphasis not only to improve the academic qualifications but also the ethical values of the
teaching staff. As parents expect teachers to be professional role models to their children, efforts
will be exerted to have a teaching staff that is well motivated, disciplined, and endowed with
ethical values (MOE, 2005).
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They are also expected to use participatory teaching methodologies and other modern approaches
in the learning – teaching process (Hume, 1990). In addition, more explicitly stated in Hume’s
teachers should give class work, homework, short tests and individual or group project works to
their students containing the three features of education (knowledge, skill and attitude); record
their result and give back their feedback. This will enable the teachers to identify, based on their
records, the weak performers and provide special assistance and discuss with the parents
concerned. In relation to this, they are expected to assess the strength and weakness of their own
capacity of teaching and make changes to their approach. In this regard, teachers should employ
an approach to encourage their students to ask questions on unclear matters; to appreciate the
response from students regardless of its correctness; to develop their self-confidence and protect
their feeling (MoE, 2012).
In relation to curriculum and instruction it is believed that all subjects are important though some
subjects worth more attention due to their role to be the basis for others. Hence, according to the
existing situation of the country, Mother tongue, English, Mathematics, Natural Science and,
Civics and Ethical education subjects are given special attention in the school improvement
program (MoE, 2011) .In addition other cross cutting issues such as environmental protection,
health and reproduction, gender and HIV/AIDS integrated with other subjects and special
attention have been given too (MoE, 2005).
The teaching shall focus on problem solving and will be implemented through exercises and
assignments given to students in order that they acquire knowledge and skills. It will be student-
oriented and used in a continuous system of evaluation. To sum up, if teachers participate in
decision made, students’ outcomes will be upgraded in every element of teaching and learning,
School learning environment has a physical as well as a relationship dimension (Wilson, 1996).
Physically, it refers to all material resources available in the school which a child can see, hear,
touch, smell, taste, feel and respond to. Examples are teachers, school children, school buildings,
school compound, classrooms, other workers in the school, games and sporting equipment,
facilities and fields, recreational facilities, teaching and learning materials, the arrangement of
seats and desks in the classroom, ventilation, the nature and position of the chalkboard. The
relationship dimension refers to the rapport that should be created among the school
administrators and teachers, between teachers and teachers and between teachers and students, as
well as between students and students that affects students’ affective and cognitive outcomes
based on student’s perception of classroom learning environments (Howes, 2000). These listed
resources comprise the school environment and they influence the physical, mental, social, and
emotional and personality, development of school children.
Data richness in the school is an important component of effective and improving schools. It is
recently found that this factor is strongly related to improvement. However, being data rich does
not just mean the collection of large amounts of data, but also their effective use, so that data can
be turned into information as a basis for creating conducive school environment and classroom
decision-making (Potter et al.,2002). Schools should collect and consolidate a wide variety of
data, including exam results, standardized and teachermade test results, questionnaires and
qualitative data. The organization of useful data can be done by leaders and teachers of the
school.To sum up, schools principals and vice principals should facilitate the conditions that
teachers take part in the creation of conducive learning school environment that improves
students learning and the learning outcome.
organs are the primary responsible ones for the problems and weaknesses at schools and they
also play appropriate role in bringing effective practice and experience to seek solution for the
problems. In this respect, they should act jointly with the school improvement committee in the
formulation of school vision and strategic plan.
Community participation can also facilitate the development of the organization of services on a
community basis. There should be a better planning of education systems, in terms of better and
more meaningful contributions in determining the need for educational facilities, their location
and size, the number and types of personnel required, recruitment procedures, employment
practices and personnel policies, the nature of financing and resource allocation. The close
relation between teachers and parents helps the school administrative committee and the school
to improve the school-community interaction (Christenson, 2004). The school cannot separate
itself from its community and it becomes increasingly more important for it to have a wholesome
relationship to its community.
Teacher-parent relationships should be a continuous process. It has a dual advantage for both the
school and the parents. On one hand, parents can understand what is going on in the school, what
the teacher is doing, what problems the school faces. On the other hand, the school can have an
opportunity to explain its overall activities. Moreover, teachers could get the chance to advise the
parents on how to handle the children outside the school. Furthermore, it promotes the
cooperative study of home and school problems that result in mutual understanding of
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The participation of teachers in school activities planning promotes teachers’ commitment to the
school policies, rules and regulations and increases their motivation to implement them as well
(Jung, 2014).Concerning the importance of participative planning ( West, 2002) say,
Participation can increase the creativity, and information available for planning, and increase the
understanding, acceptance and commitment of people of final plans. Thus, teachers’ participation
in school planning aids the school administrators (principals and PTA) to direct their efforts
towards the school goal.
Preparing school plan is not the sole duties of the school administrators; rather it involves
teachers’ participation to make quality decisions. So the best method of increasing the
involvement of teachers in school decision–making is by involving teachers in the formulation of
school’s plan. Besides the school principals should facilitate the conditions that teachers take part
in the formulation of school plan, policies, rules and regulations. Teacher should participate in
23
planning of school finance because they are well placed in identifying what is lost or fulfilled
regarding school resources.
Internal income was one of the major sources of financing education. Secondary schools were
charging students registration fee and other contribution at the beginning of school year prior to
1994 education and Training Policy. They were also generating income from sale of services and
products such as handcraft products and school farms.
The major source for schools internal income were farmlands, parents’ contribution, school
clubs activities, evening classes and rent of classrooms for different activities etc MOE (1994)
The location of schools determines the type of incomes. The income from farmland is for rural
schools while incomes from evening classes and rent of classrooms are for urban schools. The
community contribution is for all schools regardless of the location of the schools. So, teachers
need to participate in school income generation by generating idea and actively participating in
different issues that could be source of income for school. Because their genuine participation
facilitate sources of income and make implementation practical.
environment; brings about total behavioral change of the student; build positive values within
students; increase students’ involvement in management ( MoE, 2004).
Most students at the secondary school were at the adolescent stage because of this they are easily
malleable. They can be affected by peers and real situation in and out of school environment. As
a result they can show some disciplinary problem. Students that exhibit problem not only hinder
themselves but negatively affect the learning of other students as well. Therefore, the behavior
must be addressed (Thomas, 2002). Same students show a disciplinary problem and that affect
the learning and teaching Conditions of the school. Therefore, disciplinary measure used should
helped to suppress, control, and redirect such misbehavior i.e. behavior that is aggressive,
immoral or disruptive ( Alemayehu, 2012)
Learning is often hampered or even prevented because of students misbehaving in the class and
school compound. In order to tackle such situations, schools have to provide different services.
Among the various student personnel services, the ones that are relevant and applicable to our
school situation may include: library services, guidance and counseling services, records and file
care services. Teachers play a major role in decreasing inappropriate behavior through the
employment of effective instructional activities (Supaporn, 2000). Students born with different
talents and have innate ideas and interests that appear in different opportunities. Co-curriculum
program is one opportunity for students to demonstrate their talent in the school. Co-curricular
activity is a program or out-of-class activity, supervised and/or financed by the school, which
provides curriculum-related learning and character building experiences that contribute for the
total development of learners (Rehel, 2012). Cocurricular activities are voluntary are recognized
as a source of enrichment and vitalization of the school curriculum, these are mainly through the
nurturing of hobbies, interests, and growing talents etc.
Teachers can establish and maintain good student’s behavior in the schools by incorporating and
providing support through guidance and counseling services and involving students in
cocurricular activities. In addition to this, they can devise strategy to establish good discipline by
effective classroom management. In relation to this, Michael Shader (2005) cited in (Alemayehu,
2012) puts, “with good class room management, the curriculum flows smoothly with few
problem, student enjoy the class, the teacher feels successful and rewarded”.
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Therefore, one of the primary functions of teachers is developing and maintaining good
discipline in the school. To realize this, school principals should involve teachers and other none-
teaching staff in any decision making of school affair and discipline
Under this sub-topic the researcher will see definition of leadership and major factors that may
influence teachers’ participation in school decision making. These factors include behavior and
styles of leadership, delegation of authority and responsibility, communication, motivation and
teachers related factors.
Relations-oriented leaders, on the other hand, are more concerned with developing close,
interpersonal relationships. They involve a two-way communication method to show social and
emotional support while helping their employees feel comfortable about themselves, their co-
workers, and their situations (Northouse, 2010). According to Yukl (2006), they provide their
employees with enough information to do the job, they allow individual autonomy in work, and
they show appreciation.
Good leader in order to inspire and serve his staff members, he must possess a high quality of
leadership skills that they come from the knowledge, experience and understanding of people
and human relationships (Armstrong, 1990). The results of many research noted that school
principals can highly influence their teachers if they focused on the following management
strategies: staff development, communication about school norms, power sharing and
manipulation of symbols to foster cooperative relationships with teachers (Blasé, 1993).
Moreover, Johnson in Blasé (1993) point out that equitable distribution of resources, assignment
of administrative responsibility, expertise, personal example, and expressed personal interest are
some of the actions and behaviors of principals’ that have favorable impacts on teachers. Thus, it
is assumed that in school decisions, teachers’ participation can be influenced by the behavior of
principals and vice principals. This is because they may encourage or discourage their teachers.
also not recommended in solving school problems. This is because of the rules and regulations
which do not allow teachers in solving school problems.
In general, as many people agreed, from these three categories of leadership styles, a democratic
style of leadership is better than the other two styles. This is due to the fact that democratic
leadership styles allow subordinates to participate in any decisions of the organization.
Therefore, school principals and vice principals have to know which style of leadership is more
suitable to their school environment. Moreover, they also need to have necessary knowledge and
skills about leadership styles more participating teachers in school decision making issues.
2.6.2. Delegation of Authority and Responsibility
Delegation is the process by which school managers such as principals and vice principals
transfer part of their authority to subordinates (teachers) for the performance of certain tasks and
responsibilities of their schools. The role of the secondary school principal is very crucial in
meeting the objectives of the education in the school. However, the role of the principal has
become more complex that the principal needs to share the responsibilities with others in the
school through delegation. While delegation involved empowerment of employees as stated
above, certain factors should be taken into consideration such as defining the delegated task,
capacity, and interest of the person to be delegated the task. Sutherland and Canwell (2004)
asserted further that delegation usually began with the identification of an individual suitable to
perform a particular task. The person needed to be prepared, and above all, given the authority in
order to carry out the job properly. Further, delegation required the leader to support and monitor
progress, and once the tasks were completed, to acknowledge that the job was completed
successfully.
Delegation of responsibility to teachers and other staff in the school relieves the principal from
many pressures of work. According to Eyre and Pettinger (1999), if delegation of responsibility
was not effective it could lead to work overload, delayed or inaccurate decisions, stress, mistrust,
resentment, and low morale among the staff. It was also apparent that, without effective
delegation by school administrators, cases of inefficiency, disharmony, and a poor working
environment could result (Missik, 2004). Despite the importance of delegation of responsibility
in schools, there were still barriers that affected the effectiveness of delegation. There was,
28
therefore, need to establish whether principals were not willing to delegate certain
responsibilities, and find out constraints to delegation of responsibility.
According to the above idea, delegation enables schools to take full advantages of staff members
for their goal achievement. In other words, if staff members are well delegated, they will develop
the intention of full participation in school affairs. In connection to this Wodasengo (2012) states
that delegation builds morale, develops and uncovers potential, and hence increases the quality
of the work tone. Hence, school principals must properly delegate and they have to delegate
wisely so that staff members develop a positive attitude towards their professional and willingly
participate in school decision.
2.6.3. Communication
Communication is the sharing of information between two or more individuals or groups to reach
a common understanding. Good communication is essential for increasing efficiency, quality,
responsiveness, and innovation (Jonse R. and George M, 2009). Communication occurs in
various forms ranging from face to face conversation to written messages to the more subtle
forms involving facial expression and body movements (Rue and Byars, (1990). They further
define communication as, the process by which information is transferred from one source to
another source and is made meaningful to the involved sources (Bender, 2005). In organization,
there should be effective communication in keeping effective participation of staff members.
This can be achieved through creating good coordination and cooperation between managers and
staff members by building their moral (Caldwell and Brian, 2005).
2009). (Emily, 2011) suggested in the research conclusion that motivation refers to reasons that
underlie behavior that is characterized by willingness and volition. Intrinsic motivation is
animated by personal enjoyment, interest, or pleasure, whereas extrinsic motivation is governed
by reinforcement contingencies. Motivation involves a constellation of closely related beliefs,
perceptions, values, interests, and actions. The use of rewards may either encourage or diminish
motivation, depending on the type of rewards and the context in which they are given.
Accordingly, Mokoena’s (2011) study concludes that where teachers are given an opportunity to
participate in decision making, indications are that they experience high morale. Many factors
influence teachers and other staff members’ level of motivation at work. These include school
climate, lack of recognition, head teachers skill in handling decisions, communication, how the
past decisions have been handled, nature of task, fear, alienation, teacher expertise and
victimization (kipropand Kandic, 2012).
Therefore, the school principals and vice principals should not only have some knowledge of the
staff but should also bear in mind all factors which can enhance or weaken motivation as it is the
engine of activity implementation. A reason for teachers’ participation in decision making is
meaningful for teachers’ empowerment (Anderson, 2002). As it was recommended in research
conducted by Muhammad (2011) Factors positively affecting motivation of teachers are: income
status, importance in the society, incentives and rewards on showing good results. In general, as
it increases the morale of individuals motivation is important for both organization and
individual. Therefore, school administrators must consider the importance of motivation in the
school environment in order to motivate teachers towards the achievement of predetermined
goal.
both the knowledge with regard to decentralized school governance and the information about
the operation and outcome of school policies (Johnson and Boles, 1994). This revealed the need
for teachers’ training about their participation in school budget, curriculum, and staffing
decisions (White, 1992).
Second, as empowered with authority of decision making, teachers had to change their beliefs
and attitudes toward their roles outside the classroom and learnt how to think in new ways
regarding what was possible (Kirby and Peggy, 2001). Sometimes it was not easy for teachers to
adapt themselves to the new or strange circumstance which they were not familiar with at all.
Some may felt that they did not prepare well for the acceptance of the new roles to join in the
groups of making decisions. Others might complain that schools would increase their workload
by means of their involvement in decision making instead of incorporating it into their work
(Howes, 2000). These two misunderstandings reflected the lack of the appropriate belief and
attitude toward involvement in teachers’ mind, which needed the retraining and in-service
activities for teachers to construct new attitudes and roles fundamental to the new style of
decision-making (Jung, 2014)
Indeed there were still other limitations to teachers’ decision making, such as the school political
pressure, the lack of time, the vagueness of shared decision making models, the discord between
teachers and administrators (Howes, 2000). Nevertheless, the two barriers mentioned above
represented the very readiness of teachers as the authority of decision making was transferred to
them. With the capacity to deal with decisions, teachers had to be informed enough by means of
the offer of professional knowledge and information. As for the self-efficacy regarding decision
making, it was essential for teachers to have confidence in performing the new roles well.
in the best position to make and carryout decisions (Cheng, 2008). The decision making of
school staffing, curriculum, or resource allocation etc had been conventionally made by school
principals or members of administrative managerial teams. As it was stated in Jung (2014)
teachers were usually excluded by school administrators in the process of decision making and
not endowed with the obligation to implement school policies. Merely informed of the results of
decisions made, teachers might not clearly understand why or how those decisions were made.
As they seldom had opportunities to be involved in these crucial matters, their isolation within
classroom might bring about the alienation or misunderstanding between them and school.
Over the last two decades, studies indicate that if teachers are not empowered and supported as
professionals, schools would not be able to sustain significant change (Wynne, 2007 ).With the
advent of teacher empowerment, teachers will be expected to be given authority to be the ones
having access to decision making about school significant matters. If Teachers empowered by
principals through different means, there will be increment of teachers’ commitment to schools
(Caldwell and Brain, 2005). School principals would encourage teachers to participate in school
activities outside the classroom, such as textbook selection, curriculum development, learning
assessment, student placement, personnel staffing, or professional development Teacher
empowerment could include extrinsic power and intrinsic power (Kiprop and Kandic, 2012).
The extrinsic power concerned with the phenomenon that teachers had the status of affirmation,
the knowledge they need, and the process of participatory decision making. The intrinsic power
was involved with teachers’ attitude and confidence in displaying their capacity of mastering
their own work, and the representation of intrinsic power counts on teachers’ own self-
determination and sense of self-efficacy a lot. In this regard, the role of a teacher should
transform into an active participant from a passive practitioner by the practice of teacher
empowerment.
process (Latham and Pinder, 2005). As a result, the school principals should facilitate the process
of decision making and the communication of those decisions to the members of the organization
to attain the school goal and to enlarge the moral of teachers and other staffs. It can therefore be
argued that, school principals who make decision on important school issue without adequate
information do not facilitate to the attainment of organizational goals and frequently lower the
morale of members of the organization (Wadasengo, 2011). (Tibebu, 2011), recommended
effective leadership select the appropriate decisions set and permit the optimal participation for
followers. This is to say that instead of making decisions without sufficient and tangible
information, it is not necessary for school principals to facilitate environment which is conducive
and enhance participation of teachers through consultation, stimulation, and affection. Decision –
making is an important managerial process in which many decisions made by member of the
groups.
2.7.3. Evaluate Decision Effectiveness and Provide Feedback
The school principals are the first line personnel who are in charge of the decision needing
educational activities of the school (Desta, 2010).Principals of the school are the major actors to
follow and provide timely and constructive feedback on what is going on in relation to decision
passed in the school. He/she has to identify what going in the school during decision making, its
implementation and its evaluation trend to provide feedback. Principals should give constant
feedback to the teachers. If teachers participation in decision making supervised and feedback is
provided; they feel valued, makes them visible and noticed and helps improve their teaching
skills.
33
This section provides a comprehensive research design and methodology of this research. It
comprises research design, sources of data, population, sample size and sampling techniques,
instrument of data collection, procedure of data collection and methods of data analysis.
population (samples) are drawn. Accordingly, the population for the study are 195 teachers, 4
principals, 7 vice principals, 2 supervisors and 4 PTA chairperson found in these two secondary
schools of Haramaya Woreda.
The questionnaire has five parts. The first is about demographic situation of respondents to
analyze if there is any link between this factors and decision making. Part two and three of the
questionnaire consists of 39 items and it thought to elicit the extent and areas of teachers’
participation in school decision–making. Respondent will be requested to indicate teachers rate
of participation ranging 1 to 5 where 1 = very low, 2 =low; 3 = medium; 4=high; 5= very high).
In order to get relevant information for the purpose of this study, those decision statements
prepared by Malike, Joseph (cited in Assefa Abahumna, 1995) will be adopted and modified to
36
suit this research. Part four of the questionnaire contained 19 questions focus on factors affecting
teachers’ participation in decision–making. Respondents will be asked to indicate their degree of
agreement using a five point Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5 (where 1 =strongly disagree; 2
=disagree; 3 =undecided; 4 =agree; 5 = strongly agree). In addition, the fifth part of the
questionnaire contain three open ended questions in which respondent will write their additional
idea in relation to extent and areas; and on strategies to improve teachers’ participation in school
decision makings.
3.4.2. Interview
Interview will be used to collect primary data about teachers’ participation in school decision
making in secondary schools of Haramaya Woreda The type of interview will be used semi-
structured and it contained similar idea with the contents of the questionnaire. For this purpose,
interview guideline will be prepared for 4 secondary schools supervisors and 4 PTA
chairpersons. Questions for interview will be prepared in English but translated in to Afan
Oromo before the interview to obtain the necessary in depth information and avoid
communication barriers. On the other hand, informal conversational interview will be also
employed to get more additional information that supports the study.
3.4.3. Document Analysis
Documents will be checked to see different recorded/written documents such as minutes of
meeting of management committee, teachers’, PTA, departments and clubs involvement in
different decisions passed and another related documents were analyzed in order to check the
teachers’ current practicing in school decision making.
3.5. Procedure of Data collection
Data those valid this research will be collected through questionnaire, interview and document
review. The questionnaire will be tested and made necessary correction to avoid ambiguity and
confusion before conducting the final data collection. This will be followed by the preparation of
the final draft of the questionnaire. Then, the questionnaire will be administered with the help of
principals and unit leaders of the schools after provision of necessary orientation by the
researcher. The researchers will be distributed 101 questionnaires to teachers and 11
questionnaires for school leaders (principals, vice-principals and supervisors) respondents and
collected them after a week. The interview will be conducted with PTA to obtain data.
Moreover; the data available in document forms related to teachers’ participation in school
37
decision making in secondary schools of HWEO will be gathered from written materials, in the
sample schools and HWEO.
3.6. Reliability and Validity
Checking the validity and reliability of data collecting instruments before providing to the actual
study subject will be the core to assure the quality of the data (Yalew, 2006). Pilot study will be
conducted in Awaday secondary School for 20 teachers and 3 school leaders to check the
reliability of items prior to the final administration of the questionnaires to all respondents. The
pilot test will be conducted to secure the validity and reliability of the instruments with the
objective of checking whether or not the items include in the instrument can enable the
researcher to gather relevant information. Besides, the purpose of pilot testing will be made
necessary amendment so as to correct confusing and ambiguous questions. The result of the pilot
testing is statistically computed by the SPSS computer program. The Cronbach’s Alpha model
will be used for analysis. Based on the pilot test, the reliability coefficient of the instrument will
be found to be statistically calculated.
4. WORK PLAN
Table 4. Research Activities.
5. LOGISTICS
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