Abstract:
The objective of this study was to examine the implementation of school improvement
program and its related factors in lasta woreda primary schools. Simple random sampling
technique was used to select 163 primary school teachers, and comprehensive sampling
techniques were used to select 15 supervisors, 15 principals,6 woreda education quality
experts and 75 school improvement committees’ from 15 primary schools in 25 kebeles in
lasta woreda northeast Ethiopia. A blend of both quantitative and qualitative approaches to
research has been used to conduct the study. About 99% of the distributed questionnaires
were returned and data were analyzed using statistical package for social science version
22 software. Lack of training and awareness (OR=0.479, 95%CI (0.356, 0.895), Committed
support of kebeles and woreda political leaders (OR= 3.414, 95%CI (2.061, 5.656), Age of
teachers and principals (OR= 4.633, 95%CI (2.641, 8.129), Specialty (OR= 3.369, 95%CI
(1.471, 7.713) were statistically significant variables. Although further efforts are needed to
bring significant improvement, the study has shown that encouraging achievements have
been made at the school level, with respect to the Learning and Teaching Domains. However,
achievements in School Environment and Community Involvement Domains were found very
low. Furthermore, lack of school facility, insufficient budget, lack of the necessary awareness
and practical involvement of the community, lack of trained teachers for special needs
education, and lack of the necessary awareness and practical involvement of teachers were
identified as some of the major challenges in implementing school improvement program . At
present it was found that most of the schools covered by this study are at the
Implementing/Functioning level of the School Improvement Program, indicating that they
have to work hard to rise to the rooted level. The study has also disclosed that the school
improvement program will have significant forecast in terms of enhancing the learning and
teaching process, in bringing about a healthy and safe education environment, and in
creating a strong partnership between the community/parents and the school; among others.
In order to overcome the challenges and to realize the objectives of the program, the study
has recommended integrated efforts of all stakeholders of the program mainly, the school
community, the external community including parents and the Government.
