Practices and Challenges of Distributed Leadership in Secondary Schools of Aksum Town, Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the practices and challenges of distributed leadership in secondary schools of Aksum Town. Three research questions were formulated mainly focusing on the concept, practices and challenges of distributed leadership. Case study was employed in this study. For the purpose of this study, eight teachers, four school principals and four members of PTA used as a sample using comprehensive and purposive sampling techniques. Semi-structured interview was used as a data collection instrument. The qualitative data gathered through semi structured interview analyzed narratively. The findings obtained from the majority of respondents indicated that although the concept of distributed leadership understood  as a way of sharing tasks throughout teachers and school community, it has failed to implement due to lack of sense of belongingness, responsibility, confidence, supportive culture, trust and smooth relationship on the part of staff members. Therefore, it needs to establish supportive school culture, develop a sense of belongingness, responsibility, accountability, confidence and trust on the part of staff members to implement distributed leadership in schools.

Keywords:  Leadership, Distributed leadership, Practices, Challenges and Secondary school.