The main purpose of this study was to assess the current principals decision making practice in government preparatory schools’ of West Shoa Zone, Oromia Regional State. To conduct this study, a quantitative research method particularly cross sectional descriptive survey design was employed. A total of 233 respondents were included into the study. The data were collected through questionnaire, interview which was semi-structured, focus group discussion and document review. Data gathered through questionnaire were analyzed using percentage, frequency and chi-square. Data obtained through interview, focus group discussion and document review were qualitatively analyzed. The study revealed that the principals decision making practice in participating stakeholders in most areas of principals decision-making practice of preparatory schools was unsatisfactory. Principals were found to be ineffective in encouraging stakeholders’ participation in decision-making practice that leads stakeholders to perceive as it was not to be more participative. Absence of participatory school leadership, lack of trust between stakeholders and principals were some of the factors that were found to have hindered principals decision-making practice in schools. It was, thus, concluded that stakeholders role in school decision-making was not given due attentions in preparatory schools under the study. This is likely to affect the overall activities of schools, in general, and decision-making practice, in particular. Based on the conclusion, consequently, it was recommended that WOE need to assign trained and experienced principals and train principals who can empower stakeholders to participate and improve the decision making practices of schools.

Keywords: Decision making, practices, principals.