This study examined the extent to which participatory management is practised in primaryrnschools in Jimma Zone. It also explored significant differences between G1Z-PEAP assisted andrnnon-assisted schools in practising school-based management.rnThe study was designed in line of descriptive survey research method and data were collectedrnfrom 23 primary schools, WEOs, ZED, REB and G1Z-PEAP Oromia. Accordingly, 240 primaryrnschools principals and teachers, J 3 educational personnel from different echelons includingrnG1Z-PEAP Oromia and a total of 253 (93.7% of the intended) respondents were involved in thernstudy.rnPlanning, leadership roles of WEO and principals, teachers' participation and empowerment,rnstakeholders' role in school innovation, teachers' role in curriculum implementation, trainingrnand staff development, and parents and community members' participation in school life werernused as major variables for comparison.rnAppropriate statistical tools like percentage, t-test and chi-square were used to determinernsignificant differences between assisted and non-assisted schools in practising participatoryrnmanagement.rnThe result of the study indicated that with the exception of training and staff development, thernrest variables have shown less significant differences between the two groups of schools.rnMoreover, almost all items related to leadership roles (the WEO and principal' leadership roles)rnhave shown no significant differences. The result of the finding also showed that 80.85% of thernrespondents in the AS do have necessary information about G1Z-PEAP and its assistance.rn69.86% of the respondents in the NAS do not have the necessary information about the G1ZPEAPrnand its contribution to schools' improvement.rnIn conclusion, the assistance of the project has less impact in developing participatoryrnmanagement in the school. Thus, it was possible to recommend that the principle of SBM shouldrnbe encouraged in order to make the contribution of the project more effective and therebyrnimplement the Education and Training Policy of the country