Deans’ Leadership Effectiveness in Oromia Teachers Training Colleges

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to scrutinize the effectiveness of deanship in Teachers'Training Colleges (TTCs) of Oromia Regional State and to identify its challenges. Thestudy mainly employed descriptive survey research design and data were collected fromteachers using questionnaire and from deans and stream heads through interview and FDG.The quantitative data were analyzed using percentage, standard deviation, weighted meanand one-way ANOVA while the qualitative data were analyzed verbatim. The study showthat statistically there is a significant difference between TTCs in their deanshipeffectiveness. The deanship effectiveness in TTC1 is relatively highly effective whileTTCs 2and 4 have relatively moderately effective deanship effectiveness. TTC3 wasrelatively less effective with all mean values below average. Leadership in TTC1 seemsmore committed, visionary, participatory, transparent and democratic when compared withthe rest TTCs. The study also found out that there was no significant variation amonginstructors having different educational qualifications and different work experiences interms of their views regarding their colleges’ deanship effectiveness. Most of the TTCsleadership was affected by turnover which in turn hinders the college deans from settingand implementing management strategies for quality training. The situation at TTC3 wasunique in such a way that the leadership seems less visionary, less committed, and lessparticipatory and none transparent in managing college activities. In order to fill these gapswe recommend that the assignment of deans should be merit based with strong selectioncriteria that focus on the extent to which the candidates are visionary, committed and havea good track record. College deans with knowledge and skills gaps should get thenecessary in-service training that enable them carry out their leadership responsibilities.TTCs should be encouraged to develop a platform by which they share their experiences when it comes to their leadership.