Abstract:
The main objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between principals’
leadership styles and teachers’ motivation in government secondary schools of Awsi Zone of
Afar Regional State. Correlation research design was employed for this study. The research
method that was employed in this research was mixed which entails quantitative and qualitative
approach. In order to collect data, researcher used questionnaire, interviews and documents
analysis. Questionnaires were distributed to 36 school leaders (27 principals and Vice principals
and 9 Supervisors) and 176 secondary school teachers. In addition to this, nine school principals
and nine head of PTSA were interviewed. To analyze the data, frequency, percentage, mean
score, standard deviation, independent t-test and Pearson’s correlation methods were used.
Finding of the study revealed that: The Idealized Influence (Behavioral) approach of
transformational leadership styles was practiced at moderate level. Low level of practice of
intellectual stimulation, regarding individual consideration of transformational leadership style,
both group respondents responded that the practice of individual consideration of
transformational leadership styles was at moderate level. Contingent reward component of
transactional leadership is the component at the outset rated as high level of implementation.
Management by-exception (active) aspect of transactional leadership was high level of
implementation. The practice of laissez-faire leadership style was at low level in this case. On
top of this it can be concluded that the leadership styles such as transformational leadership,
transactional leadership and laissez-fair leadership styles significantly affecting teachers’ job
motivations. The p-values of the above variables less than 0.05 indicated that there was
statistically significant that of the principals full range leadership styles. Correlation between
full range leadership styles and teachers’ motivation the result of correlation was 0.810
indicated positively and very strongly correlated between full range leadership styles and
teachers’ motivation. The R model summary was 0.912 was also confirmed this. With respect to
R square 0.832, it can be concluded that 83.2% of the variation in practice full range leadership
style is accounted for by teachers motivation in secondary school of Awsi zone of Afar regional
state. Thus, to improve the situation, a school leader should use a style best suited to his
teachers’ behavior in order to arouse teachers’ motivation and make them ready for further
work, teachers should participate in schools different short term workshop to exchange
experience and enhance their capacity to perform daily job properly and be cope up with the
situation of dynamic change, school principals should undergo in-service and refresher courses
on educational planning and management, further studies are needed to be expanded for the
connection between principals’ leadership and teachers’ motivation to promote the quality of
education in other townships.
