ShoolHeads’ Role in addressing the Shortage of Science Teachers and its Impacts on Students’ Performance inButiama Secondary Schools

Shortage of science teachers is a great threat to many countries in the world. School management can make a difference by enhancing teaching and learning process. This study examined the role of heads of school in addressing the shortage of science teachers and its impacts on students’ performance in Butiama District. The study involved 96 respondents who were science students, academic teachers’, science teachers, heads of school and their deputies. The Hargreaves Capital Theory of school effectiveness and improvement guided the study. There search employed pragmatic paradigm and mixed approach, focus group discussion, interviews and questionnaires. Statistical Packages of Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to generate descriptive statistics presented in tables and charts. Research instruments were piloted and tested in sample schools. The findings revealed some efforts school leaderships has to deal with the shortage of science teachers. However, more efforts were needed to mitigate the problem; as there were delays in the provision of science facilities and undertaking of science practical, lack of science practical instruction in lower secondary classes, poor instructional supervision, lack of laboratories and motivation. The study recommends strengthening of school leadership to raise students’ performance in science subjects by observing labor relation and enhancing the school environment for effective teaching and learning \nKeywords: Performance, Secondary Schools, Tanzania, Leadership.