Leadership Style and Academic Achievement of Students

The study investigates the leadership styles of secondary school administrators in the Sidama Region, focusing on student achievement and school improvements. The research involved 37 schools, 222 teachers, and 106 school leaders. The findings revealed that school leaders' leadership characteristics explain 39.80% of student success differences. Despite research suggesting transformational leadership for school reform, the study found that transactional leadership was used in the area. The Ethiopian Ministry of Education ranked 58 of 108 secondary schools in the region as level II. The main obstacles to academic achievement include lack of resources, knowledge gaps, and low school leader commitment. The study suggests that stakeholders at all levels of education must collaborate to improve school and student performance.