Challenges and Prospects of PGDSL Training in Ethiopia. The Case of Dilla and Harayama Universites

Academic Paper from the year 2016 in the subject Didactics - Common Didactics, Educational Objectives, Methods, Addis Ababa University, language: English, abstract: The purpose of this study is to investigate the challenges and prospects of postgraduate diplomata in school leadership training at Dilla and Haramaya Universities, Ethiopia. A mixed research method is employed to conduct the study. Accordingly, descriptive survey research design is applied. Concerning to the samples of the study, 80 school leader trainees were selected trough simple random sampling technique. Moreover, 22 instructors of the PGDSL ((Postgraduate Diploma of School Leadership) training, 2 college of education deans and 2 PGDSL program coordinators of the sampled universities were selected using availability sampling technique. A questionnaire, interview and documents were used as data gathering tools for the study. The findings of the study reveal that the PGDSL program is less effective in preparing school principals who pursue for their professional development, for administrative leadership and for instructional leadership. Lack of awareness among stakeholders, low motivation of the trainees, less quality of teaching-learning materials, less benefit after graduation, less support provision of the program from training universities and ministry of education were among the challenges in offering the training. Creating awareness among stakeholders about the program; relating PGDSL training with incentives; inviting scholars to review the training modules; and reconsidering the relevance of the program were recommended.