Data-based decision-making practices in secondary schools of North Gondar, Ethiopia

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to examine data-based decision-making practices in secondary schools of North Gondar. Descriptive design was employed in the study. Data were collected from 14 principals, 28 vice principals and 78 department heads through a questionnaire which contained closed and open-ended items and from document analysis. Regarding the sampling of participants, systematic sampling was used for selecting the sample districts; principals and vice principals were selected using comprehensive sampling and purposive sampling were used to select the department heads. The result of the analysis shows that the secondary schools under study had varieties of decision areas and data available for their decisions but they did not use such data available properly to address the decision areas specified. From this, it was possible to conclude that the data-based decision-making in secondary schools was not practiced as expected and it was highly affected by a host of factors like poor scientific methods of data collection, lack of data analysis practices using different techniques and poor data storage and retrieval systems in secondary schools. It is, therefore, recommended that training in skill and awareness development on data-based decision-making should be provided to school teachers in the area.

Keywords: Data-based, decision-making, practice and secondary school.