The purpose of this study was to assess practice and role of school principals as instructionalrnleader in government secondary schools in South West Shoa Zone of Oromiya region. Thernresearch methodology employed in the study was both quantitative and qualitativernapproaches. Accordingly, a questionnaire was prepared to be filled by teachers for thernquantitative part. For the qualitative, individual interviews and FGD were administered.rnRegarding the questionnaires, distributed to sample size of 103 teachers. Data obtainedrnthrough questionnaires were analyzed using statistical tools such as frequency, percentage,rnmean, standard deviation. The findings of the study revealed that principals show lowrnpracticed in their instructional leadership role due to loaded work, lack of training inrnEducational leadership and management, lack of commitment and lack of support fromrnconcerning body. Finally, based on the findings and conclusions, recommendations werernmade on capacity building and empowering of principals to do their work effectively onrninstructional leadership, in turn, encouraging participatory approach of leadership.rnFurthermore, South West Shoa zone/ woreda education office is responsible to giverndirectives and guidelines in the cases that whenever shortcomings and gaps are observedrnand the schools should organized public relations to create school-community links.