Education Systems and Policy
Open access
Peer reviewed
Abstract
Abstract
Effective school improvement in resource-constrained settings depends on leadership that navigates persistent structural limitations, yet empirical evidence from rural Ethiopia remains scarce. This study contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) by examining how leadership in resource-constrained rural schools can promote equitable and inclusive quality education. This qualitative multiple-case study examines how school administrators perceive, interpret, and respond to challenges in infrastructure development and resource allocation, and how these conditions shape school improvement practices. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews with ten principals, eight vice-principals, twelve teachers, and ten Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) members, supported by document analysis and non-participant observation. Thematic analysis identified three interrelated patterns: reactive adaptation to chronic resource constraints, decoupling of formal improvement plans from everyday practice, and reliance on community-mediated strategies. Administrators employed policy-compliant and relational leadership practices to sustain school functionality, though systemic constraints hindered sustainable improvement. The study advances school effectiveness research by indicating how structural limitations shape leadership agency, emphasizing the need for context-responsive development models. It introduces ‘survival-oriented leadership’ as a framework for leadership under chronic infrastructural scarcity-a distinct mode characterized by limited agency, normalized scarcity, strategic compliance, and emotional labor as core competencies rather than occasional coping contributing to sustainable educational development and SDG 4 implementation in resource-constrained rural settings.
Direct answer
What can I do from this paper page?
Use this page to scan "School leadership for improvement through resource allocation and infrastructure development in rural schools" quickly: start with the summary and abstract, then check the authors, source, topics, and related papers. From here, open Scollr to follow Education Systems and Policy research, save the paper, or map adjacent work.
Research areas
Follow related topics
Citation
BibTeX
@article{Edamo2026School,
title = {School leadership for improvement through resource allocation and infrastructure development in rural schools},
author = {Dawit Legesse Edamo},
journal = {Discover Sustainability},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1007/s43621-026-04309-z},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-026-04309-z}
}FAQ
Using this paper in a discovery workflow
How do I find related work for this paper?
Use the related papers and topic links on this page as starting points. In Scollr, you can also open the paper and build a literature map around its references, citing papers, and related work.
How can I keep up with new Education Systems and Policy research papers?
Follow Education Systems and Policy research in Scollr. New papers from the topic flow into a personalized feed, and you can save useful studies to revisit later.
Can I cite this paper from this page?
This page includes a static BibTeX block for School leadership for improvement through resource allocation and infrastructure development in rural schools. Always verify the DOI, source, and publication details against the publisher record before submitting a manuscript.
Follow this research in Scollr
Follow the topics and authors behind this paper, save useful studies, and build a literature map when you are ready to go deeper.
Get the app