Abstract:
The main purpose of this study is to examine the causes of conflict between teachers and school
principals and to identify the appropriate methods for conflict managements in primary schools
of Dire InchineWoreda. To accomplish this purpose descriptive research design used and both
quantitative and qualitative research methods applied in this study. To achieve the purpose of
the study the main data and information are collected from both primary and secondary sources
of data. The primary sources were teachers, principals, head of woreda education office and
head of woreda teachers’ association in sampled area. The secondary sources of data are the
different records and relevant document with respect to conflict situations between teachers and
principals in primary schools of study area. The study conducted in 9 primary schools selected
by using random sampling. Among 126teachersfrom the sampled schools,64 teachers selected by
using simple random sampling technique. All 9 school principals, 5 supervisors, 1 head of
woreda education office and 1 woreda education teachers’ association were also involved in the
study by random sampling method .For the study, questionnaire, interview and document review
are used as data gathering tools. Questionnaires of both open and close ended are used.
Depending on the nature of the basic question to be addressed and variable treat the quantitative
data analyzed using descriptive statics such as frequency count, percentage, mean, standard .The
standard deviation is used to measure variability. To comparing the relationships (teacher and
principle) between two groups (teachers and leaders, head of woreda education office and head
of woreda teachers’ association).The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software
would be used to analyze the quantitative data. Questionnaires were distributed to 64 teachers
and 9school principals’ and 5 supervisors, totally 78 questionnaires distributed for respondents
to elicit information on causes of conflict and management strategies in primary schools of Dire
InchineWoreda. The study identified common causes of conflict between teachers and principals
as well its management technique. As the study identified the major causes of conflictsin the
study area are: loss of different benefit, poor communication, lack each other, lack of
participatory decision making and lack of conflict management skill of principals.majortypes of
conflictthat are observed in the study areawere: interpersonal conflict, intergroup
conflictandintragroup.The recommendations were the administration should build in detail on the
creation of conflict concept among teachers by having a mechanism in place to deal with
conflicts, the school administration should involve all the education stakeholders in the
resolution of conflict management strategies,the government should be including courses such as
conflict management and human relation in the curriculum for teachers and principals.
