Abstract :
The background of this study entitled ?The effect of the Principals Recruitment
Mechanism on the Principals Performance of Junior Secondary Schools in Medan
City? was the writer?s concern on the phenomena that many Junior Secondary
Schools (JSS) in Medan were not managed very well by the principals. The purpose
of the study was to obtain an overview of the recruitment mechanism of the JSS
Principals and its impact on the principals? performance. The research problems are:
1) How was the recruitment mechanism of the JSS in Medan City? 2) What was the
impact of the recruitment mechanism on the principals? performance? The primary
data was taken through questionnaire given to 41 principals as samples, and
secondary data were obtained through observation and interview. The results show
that the regulation for prospective school principals assigned by the Ministry of
National Education is found to be merely administrative requirement. The office of
the Education Department has never made an official announcement in mass media
dealing with the position vacancy. It was also found that the position costs the
candidates 80 million rupiahs as the minimum prize. Dealing with their duties and
functions, the principals did not conduct the supervision in contrast to their
recognition of the benefits. The RKS, RKT and RKAS documents which are
compulsory to any schools were not well-documented by the school. Schools facilities
and infrastructures are found to be quite good. In addition, the principals are not
transparent neither accountable in managing school programs. None of the
principals has the skills of entrepreneurship. In general, the schools provide good
programs for students and they provide good impacts on the students? non-academic
achievements. It was also found that teachers? achievements are higher than
students? achievements. As a suggestion, recruitment mechanism for JSS principals in
Medan City should be done transparently through an auction system.