Abstract

The main aim of this study was to investigate teachers’ participation in their schools’
decision making process in Basic Education High Schools, Myanaung Township,
Ayeyarwady Region. The specific aims were to study the level of teachers’ participation
in their schools’ decision making process and to study the factors that mostly affect
teachers’ participation in their schools’ decision making process. Teachers’ participation
in their schools’ decision making process was studied based on Kumbi’s five areas of
teachers’ participation in their schools’ decision making process: school improvement
program, school activities planning, curriculum and instruction, school funds and
students’ affairs and school discipline.
Quantitative and qualitative methods were used in this study. One hundred and sixty-
three teachers (both senior teachers and junior teachers) were selected as samples through
simple random sampling and all principals from eight Basic Education High Schools in
Myanaung Township. The questionnaire included three parts: areas of teachers’
participation in their schools’ decision making process, factors that affect teachers’
participation in their schools’ decision making process and open-ended questions.
Instrument was reviewed by a panel of experts.
The level of teachers’ participation in their schools’ decision making process was
found as the moderate level in this study. There was no significant difference between the
responses of senior teachers and junior teachers about the level of participation in
schools’ decision making. The comparisons of mean scores revealed that the principal
shares knowledge, skills and attitude of their teachers, teachers are willing to perform
energetically when they were represented with principal, personal relation between
principals and teachers and teachers have personal commitment on schools’ decision
making process items were the highest mean scores. These items are mostly affecting
teachers’ participation in their schools’ decision making process. According to the open-
ended questions, teachers mostly participated in issues related to curriculum and
instruction and participated the least in school funds. And misunderstanding among
colleagues, rather weak in trust on teachers and not taking into account of teachers’
suggestions were some of the factors that were found to have impeded teachers’
participation in their schools’ decision making process. The suggestions for the
improvement of teachers’ participation in their schools’ decision making process were
also provided.

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 Table of Contents
Page
Abstract............................................................................................................................iv
List of Tables..................................................................................................................vii
List of Figures................................................................................................................viii
Chapter
1. Introduction............................................................................................................1
1.1 Significance of the Study................................................................................2
1.2 Aims of the Study...........................................................................................4
1.3 Research Questions........................................................................................4
1.4 Limitation of the Study...................................................................................4
1.5 Theoretical Framework..................................................................................4
1.6 Definitions of Key Terms...............................................................................5
1.7 Content of the Study.......................................................................................6
2. Review of Related Literature.................................................................................7
2.1 Concepts of Decision Making in Education...................................................7
2.2 Models of Decision Making...........................................................................8
Motivational Model...................................................................................8
Cognitive Model........................................................................................9
2.3 Rationale for Teachers’ Participation in their Schools’ Decision Making
Process..........................................................................................................10
2.4 Areas of Teachers’ Participation in their Schools’ Decision Making
Process..........................................................................................................11
Participation in School Improvement Program.......................................11
Participation in School Activities Planning.............................................14
Participation in Curriculum and Instruction............................................14
Participation in School Funds..................................................................15
Participation in Students’ Affairs and School Discipline........................16
2.5 Factors that Affect Teachers’ Participation in their Schools’
Decision Making Process.............................................................................17
Leadership Related Factors.....................................................................17
Delegation of Authority and Responsibility............................................19
Communication.......................................................................................20
Motivation...............................................................................................21
Teachers Related Factors.........................................................................22

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 2.6 Roles of Principals in Creating Teachers’ Participation in their Schools’
Decision Making Process.............................................................................24
Empower Teachers to Participate in Decision Making...........................24
Enhance Participation in Decision Making.............................................25
Evaluate Decision Effectiveness and Provide Feedback......................26
2.7 Related Research Findings...........................................................................27
3. Methodology........................................................................................................28
3.1 Research Design...........................................................................................28
3.2 Population and Sample.................................................................................28
3.3 Instrumentation.............................................................................................29
3.4 Procedures....................................................................................................29
3.5 Data Analysis................................................................................................30
4. Findings...............................................................................................................31
4.1 Findings of the Study....................................................................................31
5. Conclusion...........................................................................................................46
5.1 Summary of Findings...................................................................................46
5.2 Discussion.....................................................................................................49
5.3 Suggestions...................................................................................................51
5.4 Need for Further Study.................................................................................52
References.......................................................................................................................53
Appendices
A. Questionnaire for Teachers...................................................................................59
B. Questionnaire for Principals.....................................................................65

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 List of Tables

Table Page

3.1 Number of Participant...........................................................................................28

3.2 Internal Consistency of Questionnaire for Teacher and Questionnaire
for Principal...........................................................................................................30
4.1 Mean Values and Standard Deviations of Principals’ Allowance and Teachers’
Participation in Schools’ Decision Making Process..............................................31
4.2 Mean Values and Standard Deviations for Participation of Teachers Grouped by
Positions............................................................................................................35
4.3 The Results of Independent Samples t-Test for the Areas of Teachers’
Participation in their Schools’ Decision Making Process Grouped by Teachers’
Positions...............................................................................................................38
4.4 Mean Values and Standard Deviations of Affects Teachers’
Participation in their Schools’ Decision Making Process due to Principals’
Response and Teachers’ Response........................................................... 40

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 List of Figures

Figure Page

2.1 A Multilevel Model Participative Decision Making (PDM) for School..............10

4.1 Degree of Allowance to Participate by Principals and Level of Participation
by Teachers...........................................................................................................35
4.2 Level of Participation Grouped by Teachers’ Positions.......................................38

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