Headteachers’ perception of leadership styles in junior high schools at Tanoso circuit in the Techiman Municipality of Bono East Region

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate headteachers’ perception of leadership styles in junior high schools at Tanoso Circuit in the Techiman Municipality of Bono East Region. The specific objectives of the study were to find out the common leadership styles used by the head teachers, examine headteachers’ perception of leadership styles in junior high schools, and identify the factors that influence the use of leadership styles by headteachers in the selected junior high schools at Tanoso Circuit in the Techiman Municipality. The study employed descriptive survey design. The population for the study comprised headteachers of the public and private junior high schools at Tanoso Circuit in the Techiman Municipality. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 31 headteachers. Questionnaire was the main instrument used. The pilot-test yielded reliability coefficient of 0.82. The data gathered were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study revealed that headteachers used democratic, autocratic, and laissez-faire leadership style based on the nature of work in the school, level to which a headteacher wishes to maintain control, and type of task assigned to the headteacher. The study found that headteachers’ leadership style boosts teachers morale in the performance of classroom activities, and improve communication with the staff. Conclusion was made that democratic leadership style is the most common leadership styles used by the headteachers’. The study recommended that headteachers of junior high schools in the setting of the study should make use of combination of leadership styles. The application of a particular style should depend on the situation and the issue at stake.