Primary school principals’ selection in Ethiopia: The interest of potential candidates in assuming principalship

The current study sought to explore potential candidates’(PCs’) interest in becoming primary school principals in the towns bordering Addis Ababa in Ethiopia’s Oromia Regional State. The study adopted an interpretive phenomenological design. Participants in the study were ten purposively selected PCs and educational officials. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and document analysis and were analyzed thematically. The study found that PCs are disinterested in taking on the role of primary school principalship. Challenges associated with assuming the principalship, pay indifference to the salary they otherwise receive as school teachers, and a lack of support from local education officials are major factors explaining the disinterest of PCs in assuming the principalship. Therefore, the town education offices have to appropriately support principals and provide them with the necessary capacity development so that incumbent leaders handle the task effectively and potential candidates are attracted to the principalship. © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.