The Role of Secondary School Principals in Meeting Challenges that Face Schools in the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

This study aimed at identifying the role of secondary
school principals in meeting the challenges that face their schools in
the twenty-first century in Irbid Governorate as perceived by school
principals and educational supervisors. It aimed also at finding any
statistical differences due to the study independent variables as job
title, qualification, and years of experience. The study population
consisted of (482) school principals and educational supervisors in
Irbid Governorate, for the year 2006-2007, 40% of whom where a
randomly sample were selected, including (123) educational
supervisors and (70) school principals. To achieve the study
objectives a questionnaire was developed which consisted of (60)
items distributed into six domains. It was used after assuring its
validity and reliability. The researcher applied the necessary
statistical analysis, which led to the following results:
- The role of school principals was rated high by school
principals, while educational supervisors rated it average.
- There were statistical significant differences perceived by the
study sample due to qualification in favor of the bachelor
degree holders, and to the years of experience in favor of the
more-than-(11) eleven-years category.
- There were no statistical differences perceived by the study
sample due to the job title. The study concluded with a number
of recommendations such as the following: more professional
development for both school principals and educational
supervisors is needed to meet the challenges that might face
schools in the future; it is necessary to concentrate on the
school principal's role practiced at school, and to be familiar
with the school future vision and objectives