THE PRACTICE AND CHALLENGES OF DECISION MAKING ON SCHOOL BASED MANAGEMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF SIDAMA REGIONAL STATE

<strong>Abstract: </strong>The main purpose of the study was to assess the practices and challenges of decision making on school based management in secondary schools of Sidama Regional State. In the study descriptive research design and mixed research, approach was used. The subjects of the study were 14 school leaders (7 principal and 7 vice principal) 154 teachers, 70 department heads and 28 PTA and KETB members. Purposive sampling technique was employed to include the government secondary schools and samples of the principals and vice principals. Simple random sampling technique was also used to select teacher, department heads, PTA and KETB respondents. Questionnaire, interviews, focus group discussion and document analysis were the data collection tools employed in this study. The quantitative data were analyzed by using frequency, mean values standard deviation and chi-square. On the other hand, the data obtained through interview and document review were analyzed qualitatively to substantiate the result of quantitative analysis. The study findings indicated the school principal’s effort in order to achieve school goals by practicing school based decision-making process was found; lack of training and qualification of principals in school leadership, in appropriate function of the school organizational structure, the problem of balanced time and work load for parents and teachers involvement in the school decision. Whereas, lack of teachers’ interest to develop the vision, mission, and goals of the school and commitment to work in collaboration with principals, the problem of teachers' professional development and performance evaluation tools in the schools. Moreover, the findings related with ETBs and PTAs indicated that the problems to communicate the vision, mission and goals of the school with communities, and the problem to give priority for their school duties and responsibilities. The conclusions drawn were: the current practice of school principals was weak in applying shared and collaborative decision with stakeholders, lack of teachers interest to participate and PTAs and KETBs, were rarely give priority of the school decisions in the sample secondary schools in the study areas. Thus, to overcome the major problems associated with school based decision making, recommendations for warded includes; The principals should play facilitative and shared leadership in building strong team and organizational structure, Principals should involve those who have a stake and affected by the school decision in the issues like: vision, mission and goal setting, problem prioritization and planning. Teachers, as parts of legal governing body of the school, they have to use the advantage of leading and managing their school. Moreover, teachers should be active participant in all school decisions matters that affect their day to day activities. PTAs members who were elected with the intention to communicating schools and the wider communities. Thus, PTA members have to play a leading role in mobilizing parents and communities in material, labor, financial and idea contribution. WEO, ZED and SPRS-EB in cooperation with the nearby college and universities facilitate the opportunities of in-service training for principals. WEO also should manage workshops, seminars and conferences to empower teachers and parents on their group decision-making areas of the school.