Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between leadership styles and
students’ academic performance in secondary schools in Kuyu woreda. It was guided by the
following specific objectives: to find out the leadership styles implemented by principals of
secondary schools, to examine the students’ academic performance in selected secondary
schools of Kuyu woreda and to investigate the relationship between school principals’
leadership styles and students’ academic performance in selected secondary schools. A
correlation research design was chosen to conduct the research. Participants in the study were
10 school leaders selected using purposive techniques and 54 teachers selected using simple
random sampling techniques. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, and
document analyses. Questionnaires were used as the main instrument of data collection. Both
qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods were used to reach at the results. The data
obtained by questionnaire was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentage, mean,
standard deviation and correlation analysis methods. Then by using of tables, objective by
objective the results were presented and interpreted. The findings of the study revealed that,
different leadership styles were moderately applied in diffident average mean. Accordingly
democratic leadership styles implemented than the remaining leadership styles because its
average mean is 3.18 which is interpreted as moderate mean, to the second specific objective it
was revealed that students’ academic performance is very low in secondary school of Kuyu
woreda. Finally correlation results revealed that there is a positive relationship of
0.695**between democratic leadership style and performance of students which statistically
significant as it is 0.000 which is approach to perfectly positive correlations. The data revealed
negative relationship between autocratic and laissez-faire leadership styles and academic
performance which is statistically not significant. Finally, the school principals are
recommended to improve their way to implement democratic leadership style since it was found
as the best influence of students’ performance in selected secondary schools of kuyu woreda.
