Berhane Aradom Tedla, Gaikar Vilas B, Ephrem Habtemichael Redda
Secondary school department heads play a pivotal role in leading department teams to promote quality instruction, yet the position appears to be ambiguous. In Eritrea, the role of the department head has not yet been studied empirically. The aim of the study was, therefore, to explore the nature, role and responsibilities of department heads in secondary schools. The study employed a descriptive design and data was collected through an open-ended questionnaire, observation. Qualitative analysis such as interview and document analysis were utilized to address the research objectives. Based on the findings, the position of a department head is not yet fully utilized or established due to a lack of a formal written job description. The department of education should work on the established structure, formal authority, an official job description and written policy document.