A hybrid participatory framework for strategic decision making in the Ethiopian education sector

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine the effect of strategic decision-making processes and practice on the quality of education – particularly of general education in Ethiopia – conduct analysis on strategic decision-making processes and practice in developing economies, and to develop a hybrid decision-making model for greater efficiency. To test hypotheses, data were collected from 391 Employees of Ethiopian governmental and non-governmental institutes/organisations who were working on the position of strategic planning and decision-making and supporting the nation by assisting, especially in terms of finance and human resources. A mixed-method approach was used in this study. Such a methodology employs both quantitative and qualitative methods. The qualitative method is dominant, while the quantitative method is used in a supportive role. Structured and unstructured questionnaires focus group discussions and one-to-one interview techniques were employed to collect data for the research. The strategy chosen for this mixed-method study was concurrent triangulation, which enables the researcher to collect both quantitative and qualitative data concurrently and then compare the two data sets to determine if there is convergence, differences, or some combination of both (Creswell, 2009). With the help of SPSS software 2.0, descriptive analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to verify all hypotheses and data on the effects of strategic decision-making processes and practice on the quality of general education. According to the analysis result, six null research hypotheses were confirmed as rejected and three null hypotheses were confirmed as accepted. According to the data analysis result, there is a positive correlation between strategic decision-making processes and the quality of general education. Using a top-down approach, the research findings suggest that strategic decision-making processes and practices in Ethiopia should be participatory. However, the participation level of stakeholders is not encouraging, with most stakeholders not being involved in strategic decision-making processes and practice throughout the nation. In their decision-making, leaders, whether at the federal or regional level, were found not to be using a participatory decision-making model. Most were found to be following a set administrative structure and basing decisions on instructions from leaders. As a result, the bottom layers of government were found to be discouraged and not actively participating in the implementation of the strategic plan. Consequently, the quality of general education in Ethiopia was found to have been deteriorating over time.

Injongo yesi sifundo kukuphonononga ifuthe leenkqubo zokuthatha izigqibo ngobulumko kunye nokuqhutywa kwemfundo esemgangathweni – ngakumbi imfundo jikelele e-Ethiopiya – kuphonongwe iinkqubo zokuthatha izigqibo ngobulumko nokuzisebenzisa kumazwe anoqoqosho olusakhasayo kunye nokuqulunqa indlela exubayo yokuthatha izigqibo ukuze kusetyenzwe ngcono. Ekuvavanyeni okuthelekelelwayo, kwaqokelelwa iinkcukacha zolwazi kubaqeshwa bakarhulumente wase-Ethiopia abangama-391 nakumaziko/kumaqumrhu angengowaseburhulumenteni nawayesebenza kwizikhundla zokuceba nokuthatha izigqibo ngobulumko kwanokuxhasa isizwe ngokuncedisa, ngakumbi kwimithombo yezoqoqosho neyoluntu. Kwasetyenziswa indlela exubileyo ekuqhubeni esi sifundo. Loo ndlela iquka ukusebenzisa uphando ngokujonga amanani abathathi nxaxheba okanye ukuzathuza. Kusetyenziswe kakhulu ukuzathuza kwaze ukuqwalasela amanani kwasetyenziselwa ukuxhasa ukuzathuza. Kwaqokelelwa ulwazi lophando kusetyenziswa uludwe lwemibuzo oluqingqiweyo nolungaqingqwanga, kwaqhutywa iingxoxo zamaqela, nodliwano ndlebe lobuso ngobuso. Icebo elakhethelwa le ndlela yophando ixubileyo yayikukuqhuba ngaxeshanye zonke iinkqubo zophando, ukwenzela ukuba umphandi aqokelele iinkcukacha ngamanani okanye ngozathuzo, emva koko athelekise olo lwazi ngenjongo yokujonga ukuba ingaba ziyavumelana, ziyaphikisana okanye zenza kokubini kusini na (Creswell, 2009). Ngoncedo lobuxhakaxhaka bobuchwepheshe ekuthiwa yiSPSS software 2.0, kwahlalutywa iinkcukacha ngokuqikelela isiphumo samaqela eenkcukacha, oko kusenzelwa ukungqina okwakuqikelelwe ngaphambili ngefuthe leenkqubo zokuthatha izigqibo nokusetyenzwa komgangatho wemfundo jikelele. Ngokweziphumo zohlalutyo, zintandathu iziqikelelo ezakhatywayo kanti ezintathu zangqinwa. Iziphumo zohlalutyo zabuya zadiza ukuba kukho ulwalamano phakathi kweenkqubo zokuthatha izigqibo ngobulumko nomgangatho wemfundo jikelele. Ngokusebenzisa indlela yolawulo esuka phezulu iye ezantsi, okufunyaniswe kolu phando kuthi iinkqubo zokuthatha izigqibo ngobulumko e-Ethiopia kufuneka ziqhutywe ngokubambisana. Noxa kunjalo, izinga lokuthatha inxaxheba kwabachaphazelekayo alikhuthazi, ngoba uninzi lwabachaphazelekayo ababandakanyeki kwiinkqubo zokuthatha izigqibo ngobulumko esizweni. Ekuthatheni izigqibo, iinkokheli ezikumazinga kazwelonke okanye kwiingingqi zafumaniseka ukuba azibambisani nabachaphazelekayo. Kwafumaniseka ukuba uninzi lwazo ezo nkokheli zilandela isakhelo solawulo esiqingqiweyo kwaye zithatha izigqibo ngokulandela imiyalelo yeenkokheli zazo. Loo nto yabatyhafisa abakumazinga asezantsi aseburhulumenteni kwaye bangabi namdla wokusebenza ngamandla ekufezekiseni icebo lobulumko. Ngoko ke umgangatho wemfundo jikelele e-Ethiopia wafumaniseka usiya usihla ekuhambeni kwexesha

Inhloso yalolu cwaningo ukuhlola imithelela yezinhlelo kanye nengqubo yokuthathwa kwezingqumo ezingeni lokuphatha eliphezulu mayelana nezinga lemfundo – ikakhulu kumkhakha wonke wemfundo engase-Ethiopia – uhlaziyo olwenziwe phezu kwezinhlelo kanye nengqubo yokuthathwa kwezinqumo ezingeni eliphezulu lokuphatha emazweni asathuthukayo kwezomnotho, kanye nokuthuthukiswa kwemodeli yokuthathwa kwezinqumo, phecelezi i-hybrid decision-making model ukuze izinto zihambe kahle kakhulu. Ukuhlola lehayipothesisi, kuye kwaqoqwa idatha yabaSebenzi aba-391 bakahulumeni wase-Ethiopia kanye nakumaziko/nakwizinhlangano ezizimele (ezingezona zikahulumeni), okungabasebenzi ababesebenza ezikhundleni eziphezulu zokuphatha kwezokuhlela nokuthathwa kwezinqumo (strategic planning and decision-making) kanye nokuxhasa isizwe ngokusiza, ikakhulu mayelana nokuxhaswa ngezimali komnyango wezokuqhashwa kwabasebenzi (human resources). Ukuze kuhlolwe ihayipothesisi, idatha iqoqwe kubaSebenzi bakahulumeni aba-391 base-Ethiopia kanye nakumaziko/nakwizinhlangano, okungabasebenzi ababesebenza ezikhundleni zokuphatha kwezokuhlela nokuthatha izinqumo kanye nokuxhasa isizwe ngokusiza, ikakhulu mayelana nezimali kanye nasemnyangweni wezokuqhashwa kwabantu. Uhlelo oluvangene i-mixed-method approach lusetshenzisiwe kulolu cwaningo. Le methodoloji isebenzisa izindlela ezimbili eyencike phezu kwamanani (quantitative) kanye nencike phezu kwengxoxo (qualitative). Indlela eyencike kwingxoxo yiyo kanye ehamba phambili, njengoba indlela eyencike phezu kwamanani isetshenziswa kwindima yokuxhasa. Imibhalo yemibuzo ehleliwe naleyo engahleliwe, izingxoxo zamaqembu aqondiwe kanye nezinhlelo zenhlolovo kusetshenzisiwe ukuqoqa idatha yocwaningo. Amasu akhethwe alolu cwaningo lwayo le ndlela evangile (mixed-method) lwaluhambisana nohlelo lokusebenzisa zonke izindlela (triangulation), okuyizindlela ezinceda umcwaningi ukuba aqoqe idatha ngezindlela ezimbili, eyencike phezu kwengxoxo naphezu kwamanani ngesikhathi esisodwa kanti futhi kuqathaniswe amasethi amabili edatha ukuthola ukuthi ngabe kukhona ukuhambisana, imehluko, noma ukuhlobana kuzo zombili (Creswell, 2009). Ngocedo lwe-SPSS software 2.0, kusetshenziswe indlela yokuhlaziya echazayo kanye nohlelo lwe-multiple regression analysis lusetshenzisiwe ukuqinisekisa onke amahayipothesisi kanye nedatha phezu kwemithelela yezinhlelo kanye nezingqubo zokuthathwa kwezinqumo ezingeni lokuphatha eliphezulu kanye nezinga lemfundo yonke. Ngokomphumela wohlaziyo, amahayipothesisi (6 null research) ocwaningo ayisithupha aqinisekisiwe njengalawo akhashelwe ngaphandle kanti amahayipothesisi amathathu (3 null research) aqinisekiswe njengalawo amukelwe. Ngokwemiphumela yohlaziyo lwedatha, kukhona ukuhambela okuhle okuphakathi kwezinhlelo zokuthathwa kwezinqumo esigabeni sokuphatha esiphezulu kanye nakwimfundo yonke. Ngokusebenzisa indlela esuka phezulu ishone phansi, ulwazi olutholakele kucwaningo luphakamise ukuthi izinhlelo kanye nezingqubo zokuthatha izinqumo esigabeni sokuphatha esiphezulu e-Ethiopia kufanele zibandakanye. Yize-kunjalo, izinga lokuzibandakanya labadlalindima alikhuthazi nakancane, njengoba abadlalindima abaningi ababandakanywa ekuthathweni kwezinqumo esigabeni esiphezulu sokuphatha ezweni lonke. Uma kuthathwa izinqumo, abaholi, mhlawumbe abaksezingeni lefederali noma lesifunda batholakele ukuthi abalandeli imodeli ebandakanya abanye abantu uma kuthathwa izinqumo. Iningi labo litholakele lilandela uhlelo lokuphatha futhi lususela izinqumo zabo phezu kwezinqumo kubaphathi. Njengomphumela, izigaba eziphansi zikahulumeni zibonakele zixova umoya kanti lezi zigaba zabantu bebangazibandakanyi ngendlela ematasa uma sebesebenzisa uhlelo lwezinqumo zesigaba esiphezulu sabaphathi. Njengomphumela, izinga lemfundo yonke e-Ethiopia litholakele lishona phansi njalo nje.