Research: Education Management in SA (1)

I'll put it in parts because it's a bit lengthy. I presented this last month at my university. It caused lots of discussions.


An overview of education management in South Africa

I examine three main issues, wh ich are d irectly linked to school management developments in South A frica since 1994: school leadership and management; professionalisation of principalship through the South African Standard for School Leadership (SASSL); and leading and managing the learning school. In exploring these issues I draw mainly on a systematic and comprehensive literature review of school leadership, management, and governance, commissioned by the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance (MGSLG). The
aim of the desk research was to establish ‘what is known’ and ‘what still needs to be known’ about education al leadership, managem en t, and gove rnance in South Africa. I also draw upon the work of the Education Managem ent Task Team (EMTT), commissioned by the Directorate of Education Management and Governance Development in the Na tional Dep artment of Education. The ir work drew upon the South A frican Schools Act (SASA) and, specifically, the recommendations of the Ministerial Task Team on Educational Management. The
EMTT brief was to develop a policy framework for school leadership and management development, training and implementation, and to devise a South African Standard for School Leadership which would inform professional educational leadership programmes, leading to a National Professional Qualification for Principalship (SANPQP). The SASSL would provide a clear role description for principals, set out what is required of principals, and identify key areas of p rincipalship.

Keywords: learning schools; principalship; professionalisation, school leadership

( Part 1 - History and context )

To be continued...