Performance of School Principal Leadership Assuming Power Based on Competence and Appointment by the Government: The Case of Ambo Town Public Secondary Schools, West Shoa Zone, Oromia Ethiopia

These study emphasis on the examining the performance of school principal leadership based on the two power base of competence and government appointees in West Showa Zone, Ambo town public secondary schools. The study employ mixed sequential design and involves 166 participants from selected public secondary schools trough sample size determination within Yemane Taro formula coupled with systematic random sampling and again 6 KII interviewee were also conducted. The questionnaire and key informant interview were the instruments used to generate firsthand information. The data were analyzed by mean comparison and supported by the independent sample test to make comparison of the performances based on available standards and indicators for the two powerbase categories. The study found that the performance comparison of the two power base of principal leadership, the principals from competence based scores relatively higher mean scores in performances of vision for learning, staff support and development, operation and management, culture for learning and maintaining professional ethics and advocacy than the principals of government appointees. Based on these study founding it was recommended that the more competent the principal leaders, the more effective the educational organizations performances, then it was identified as competence based principal selection approach worth relatively better to be followed and implemented. Key words: performance, principal’s and power bases DOI: 10.7176/NCS/15-01 Publication date: February 28th 2025