Home All Issues Issue articles Previous article Next article

Practices and problems of school principals’ recruitment and selection in Hawassa city administration, Sidama National Regional State, in Ethiopia

Mitiku Kajisho Banata 1 2 *
1 Department of Educational Planning and Management, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Hawassa University, ETHIOPIA2 Hawassa College of Teacher Education, Hawassa, ETHIOPIA* Corresponding Author
Educational Point, 2(2), 2025, e127, https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/16803
Publication date: Aug 21, 2025
Research Article
Open Access Open Access
Download PDF

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate practices and problems of secondary school principals’ recruitment and selection in Hawassa City Administration, Sidama National Regional State, Ethiopia. To this end, a convergent parallel design was employed. Teachers were selected by simple random sampling techniques, whereas school leaders and selection committee members were selected by using purposive sampling techniques. Questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis were used to collect data. Both descriptive statistical and non-parametric tests were used to analyze data. In addition to these, qualitative data were analyzed qualitatively and triangulated with quantitative results. The findings of the study revealed that selection criteria were not merit-based and competency-based, screening phase criteria were subjective, attitudinal, and more related to political aspects rather than academic requirements. Moreover, the study showed that incompetency and favoritism of selection panels, and subjectivity and inappropriate implementation of selection tools in the selection process. Besides, the findings of the study revealed that partisan affiliation and non-merit aspects were used as criteria to select principals rather than professional knowledge, skills, and values. Furthermore, the study showed that a lack of clearly defined selection criteria and methods, and transparency problems, implementers’ related problems, and different malpractices affect school principals’ selection. It was concluded that school principals’ selection processes and practices were not implemented as designed, and school principals were assigned based on non-professional and non-merit-based criteria.

KEYWORDS

school principals secondary school principals principals’ recruitment principals’ selection principals’ recruitment and selection

CITATION (APA)

Banata, M. K. (2025). Practices and problems of school principals’ recruitment and selection in Hawassa city administration, Sidama National Regional State, in Ethiopia. Educational Point, 2(2), e127. https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/16803
Harvard
Banata, M. K. (2025). Practices and problems of school principals’ recruitment and selection in Hawassa city administration, Sidama National Regional State, in Ethiopia. Educational Point, 2(2), e127. https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/16803
Vancouver
Banata MK. Practices and problems of school principals’ recruitment and selection in Hawassa city administration, Sidama National Regional State, in Ethiopia. Educational Point. 2025;2(2):e127. https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/16803
AMA
Banata MK. Practices and problems of school principals’ recruitment and selection in Hawassa city administration, Sidama National Regional State, in Ethiopia. Educational Point. 2025;2(2), e127. https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/16803
Chicago
Banata, Mitiku Kajisho. "Practices and problems of school principals’ recruitment and selection in Hawassa city administration, Sidama National Regional State, in Ethiopia". Educational Point 2025 2 no. 2 (2025): e127. https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/16803
MLA
Banata, Mitiku Kajisho "Practices and problems of school principals’ recruitment and selection in Hawassa city administration, Sidama National Regional State, in Ethiopia". Educational Point, vol. 2, no. 2, 2025, e127. https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/16803

REFERENCES

  1. Akbaşlı, S., Şahin, M., & Gül, B. (2017). Selection process of school principals in Turkey and some other countries: A comparative study. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 5(12), 2251-2258. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2017.051215
  2. Armstrong, M. (2006). A handbook of human resource management practice. Kogan Page Publishers.
  3. Baltzell, D. C., & Dentler, R. A. (1983). Selecting American school principals: Research report. National Institute of Education. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED238206
  4. Busby, E. (2019, May 3). Number of schools failing to recruit senior leaders rises to record high, survey suggests. Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/teacher-shortage-school-head-staff-recruit-retention-naht-headteacher-a8896751.html
  5. Bush, T. (2008). Leadership and management development in education. Sage Publications. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446213605
  6. Chapman, J. D. (2005). Recruitment, retention, and development of school principals (Vol. 2). International Institute for Educational Planning, UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000140987
  7. Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2017). Research methods in education (8th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315456539
  8. Cotton, K. (2003). Principals and student achievement: What the research says. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
  9. Creswell, J. W. (2015). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (4th ed). Pearson.
  10. Day, C., & Sammons, P. (2013). Successful leadership: A review of the international literature. CfBT Education Trust. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED546806
  11. Day, C., Sammons, P., & Gorgen, K. (2020). Successful school leadership. Education Development Trust. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED614324
  12. Day, C., Sammons, P., Hopkins, D., Harris, A., Leithwood, K., Gu, Q., Brown, E., Ahtaridou, E., & Kington, A. (2009). The impact of school leadership on pupil outcomes: Final report. National College for School Leadership, University of Nottingham Press. https://dera.ioe.ac.uk/id/eprint/11329/1/DCSF-RR108.pdf
  13. Edamo, D. L. (2018). Principals’ instructional leadership performance in Hawassa City Administration secondary schools, Ethiopia. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 23(1), 13-22.
  14. Feichtinger, B., & Hörold, C. (2015). Recruitment and selection: The way of finding future talented leaders [Master’s thesis, Linnaeus University]. https://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-43642
  15. Feye, D. D. (2019). Instructional leadership practice and challenges of school principals in governmental secondary schools of Sidama Zone (SNNPRS). IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science (IOSR-JHSS), 24(10).
  16. Gay, L. R., Mills, G. E., & Airasian, P. W. (2012). Educational research: Competencies for analysis and applications. Pearson.
  17. Gurmu, T. G. (2018). Development of the Ethiopian school leadership: Foundation, self-dependence, and historical erratic evolution. Journal of Educational Administration and History, 50(4), 343-363. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220620.2018.1512956
  18. Gurmu, T. G. (2020). Primary school principals in Ethiopia: Selection and preparation. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 48(4), 651-681. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143219836673
  19. Haile, E. S., & Smit, B. (2020). Who leads the school? The influence of state politics in school leadership, Ethiopia. Journal of Education and Practice, 11(25), 15-25. https://doi.org/10.7176/JEP/11-25-03
  20. Hay Group. (2006). Recruiting head teachers and senior leaders: Seven steps to success. National College for School Leadership. https://dera.ioe.ac.uk/id/eprint/6978/
  21. Hooker, K. (2000). Superintendents’ perspectives on the recruitment and selection of building level administrators. Planning and Changing, 31(3–4), 182–205.
  22. Huber, S. G., & Hiltmann, M. (2009). The recruitment and selection of school leaders–first findings of an international comparison. School Leadership-International Perspectives, 303-330. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3501-1_16
  23. Kirkpatrick, R. (2000). Recruiting and developing candidates for principal. NASSP Bulletin, 84(617), 38-43. https://doi.org/10.1177/019263650008461705
  24. Kwan, P., & Walker, A. (2009). Are we looking through the same lens? Principal recruitment and selection. International Journal of Educational Research, 48(1), 51-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2009.03.003
  25. Lee, S. W., & Mao, X. (2023). Recruitment and selection of principals: A systematic review. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 51(1), 6-29. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143220969694
  26. Leithwood, K., Louis, K. S., Wahlstrom, K., Anderson, S., Mascall, B., & Gordon, M. (2009). How successful leadership influences student learning: The second installment of a longer story. Second International Handbook of Educational Change, 611-629. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2660-6_35
  27. Leithwood, K., Seashore, K., Anderson, S., & Wahlstrom, K. (2004). Executive summary: Review of research: How leadership influences student learning. Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement. https://doi.org/10.59656/EL-SB5787.002
  28. Lunenburg, F. C. (2010). The principal and the school: What do principals do? National Forum of Educational Administration and Supervision Journal, 27(4). https://www.nationalforum.com/Electronic%20Journal%20Volumes/Lunenburg,%20Fred%20C.%20The%20Principal%20and%20the%20School%20-%20What%20Do%20Principals%20Do%20NFEASJ%20V27,%20N4,%202010.pdf
  29. Lunenburg, F. C., & Ornstein, A. (2021). Educational administration: Concepts and practices. Sage Publications.
  30. Macbeath, J. (2009). Recruitment and retention of senior school leaders: Meeting the challenge. European Educational Research Journal, 8(3), 407-417. https://doi.org/10.2304/eerj.2009.8.3.407
  31. MacBeath, J., Oduro, G., Jacka, J., & Hobby, R. (2006). Leading appointments: The selection and appointment of headteachers and senior leaders: A review of the literature. National College for School Leadership.
  32. McEwen, N. (2006). Improving schools: Investing in our future. Alberta Education. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED494151
  33. Mengistu, G. K. (2012). Job satisfaction of secondary school teachers in Ethiopia [Thesis, University of South Africa]. https://umkn-dsp01.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/9742
  34. Miller, P. (2014). What is a principal’s quality mark? Issues and challenges in leadership progression among primary teachers in Jamaica. Research in Comparative and International Education, 9(1), 126-136. https://doi.org/10.2304/rcie.2014.9.1.126
  35. Mitchell, R. (2012). How can the leadership capacity of school principals and supervisors be effectively developed to support educational reform in Ethiopia? Practitioner reflections from a cluster unit in a college of teacher education in Northern Ethiopia (MA assignment, Univerity of Leeds, UK). https://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.2972.4481
  36. MOE. (2008). Principals and supervisors’ career and job structure guidelines. Addis Ababa: MOE. https://www.moe.gov.et/
  37. MOE. (2013). The national professional standard for school principals. Addis Ababa: MOE. https://www.moe.gov.et/
  38. MOE. (2014). Principals and supervisors’ selection, assignment, and promotion guidelines. Addis Ababa: MOE. https://www.moe.gov.et/
  39. MOE. (2017). Principals and supervisors’ selection, assignment, and promotion guidelines. Addis Ababa: MOE. https://www.moe.gov.et/
  40. MOE. (2021). School leaders recruitment and supervisors promotion implementation revised guideline. Addis Ababa: MOE.
  41. Muhlenbruck, T. M. (2001). Through the eyes of school personnel administrators: What matters in selecting elementary school principals. Drake University. http://hdl.handle.net/2092/314
  42. Mulkeen, A., Chapman, D. W., DeJaeghere, J. G., & Leu, E. (2004). Recruiting, retaining and retraining secondary school teachers and principals in Sub Saharan Africa (Working Paper 39167; No.99). World Bank. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/308001468005692033
  43. Nasreen, A. (2019). The world of a school principal: A qualitative study of secondary school principals’ selection, capability, and current practices in the Province of Punjab. Bulletin of Education and Research, 41(2), 161-179.
  44. Nel, P. S., Van Dyk, P. S., Haasbroek, G. D., Schultz, H. B., Sono, T., & Werner, A. (2007). Human resources management (6th ed.). Oxford University Press.
  45. Normore, A. H. (2006). Leadership recruitment and selection in school districts: Trends and issues. Journal of Educational Thought / Revue de la Pensée Éducative, 40(1), 41-73. https://doi.org/10.55016/ojs/jet.v40i1.52593
  46. Otoo, I. C., Assuming, J., & Mensah Agyei, P. (2018). Effectiveness of recruitment and selection practices in public sector higher education institutions: Evidence from Ghana. European Scientific Journal, 14(13), 199-214. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2018.v14n13p199
  47. Palmer, B. (2017). A renewed call to action: Update principal selection methods. AASA Journal of Scholarship & Practice, 14(3), 11-27.
  48. Palmer, B., & Mullooly, J. (2015). Principal selection and school district hiring cultures: Fair or foul? Journal of Education & Social Policy, 2(2), 26-37.
  49. Pont, B., Nusche, D., & Mooman, H. (2008). Improving school leadership, Volume 1: Policy and practice. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264044715-en
  50. Quraishi, U., & Aziz, F. (2016). Selection process for principals in northern Pakistan: Key issues and new directions. Asian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 5(2), 192-206.
  51. Rammer, R. A. (2007). Call to action for superintendents: Change the way you hire principals. The Journal of Educational Research, 101(2), 67-76. https://doi.org/10.3200/JOER.101.2.67-77
  52. Romanowski, M. H., Sadiq, H., Abu-Tineh, A. M., Ndoye, A., & Aql, M. (2020). Principal selection for Qatar’s government schools: Policy makers’, principals’ and teachers’ perspectives. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 48(5), 893-915. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143219859006
  53. Sağlam, A. Ç., Geçer, A., & Bag, D. (2017). Training and appointing processes of school leaders in developed and developing countries: How is the situation in Turkey? Universal Journal of Educational Research, 5(9), 1479-1489. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2017.050905
  54. Schleicher, A. (2012). Preparing teachers and developing school leaders for the 21st century: Lessons from around the world. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264174559-en
  55. Schlueter, K., & Walker, J. (2008). Selection of school leaders: A critical component for change. NASSP Bulletin, 92(1), 5-18. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192636507312964
  56. Sezer, S. (2016). School administrators’ opinions on frequently changing regulations related to appointments and relocation: A new model proposal. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 16(2), 335-356.
  57. Tadesse, R., Adula, B., Gemechis, F., Teklu, T., & Dereje, D. (2019). A look in to leadership and leadership development practices in Ethiopia: A stakeholder analysis. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development, 6(4), 40-44.
  58. Taipale, A. (2012). International survey on educational leadership. A survey on school leader’s work and continuing education. Finnish National Board of Education and the Author. https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/143319-international-surveyoneducationalleadership/28625356
  59. Teferra, T., Asgedom, A., Oumer, J., W/hanna, T., Dalelo, A., & Assefa, B. (2018). Ethiopian education development roadmap (2018-30): An integrated executive summary: Draft for discussion. Ministry of Education Strategy Center (ESC). https://planipolis.iiep.unesco.org/sites/default/files/ressources/ethiopia_education_development_roadmap_2018-2030.pdf
  60. Tekleselassie, A. A. (2002). The deprofessionalization of school principalship: Implications for reforming school leadership in Ethiopia. International Studies in Educational Administration, 30(3), 57-64.
  61. Tulowitzki, P., Roller, M., Haiges, J., & Hinzen, I. (2019). School leader recruitment, retention and motivation in Europe. European Education Network on Teachers and School Leaders. https://doi.org/10.26041/fhnw-2034
  62. Waters, T., Marzano, R. J., & McNulty, B. (2004). McREL’s balanced leadership framework: Developing the science of educational leadership. Ers Spectrum, 22(10), 4-10. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ795656
  63. Webb, L. D., & Norton, M. S. (2013). Human resources administration: Personnel issues and needs in education (6th ed.). Pearson.

LICENSE

Creative Commons License
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.