Head teachers’ leadership skills and conflict resolution: a study of selected secondary schools in Kampala district

Abstract

The study sought to establish the relationship between head teachers’ leadership skills and conflict resolution in selected secondary schools in Kampala District. The study objectives were to establish the relationship between head teachers’ communication skills, collaborative skills and problem solving skills on conflict resolution in selected secondary schools in Kampala District. The study was based on the cross-sectional survey design. It was majorly quantitative with embedded qualitative approaches. Data was collected from 112 teachers and 8 head teachers who were selected using simple and purposive random sampling. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire for teachers and interview guide for school administrators. Quantitative data was analyzed using frequencies, percentages and means at univariate level. The study hypotheses were tested using Pearson’s correlation coefficient index while qualitative data was thematically analysed depending on the major themes and subthemes of the study conceptual framework. The findings revealed that, head teachers’ communication skills had a statistically positive and significant relationship with conflict resolution in the selected secondary schools (r = 0.265, p = .005) while headteachers’ collaborative skills (r = 0.088, p > .01) and headteachers’ problem solving skills (r = 0.105 p > .01) had a statistically positive but insignificant relationship with conflict resolution. The conclusions of the study were that head teachers’ communication skills significantly related with conflict resolution while head teachers collaborative and problem solving skills insignificantly related with conflict resolution. It was hence recommended that to fully resolve conflicts in secondary schools, head teachers, Ministry of Education and Sports, District Education Officials together with secondary school administrators should ensure that they put up communication channels that allow a two-way communication flow, organize meetings, use verbal and non-verbal communications channels but should not over emphasize problem solving and collaborative communication skills as a way of improving on conflict resolution.