Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Governance of schools'
To see the other types of publications on this topic, follow the link: Governance of schools.
Create a spot-on reference in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and other styles
Consult the top 50 dissertations / theses for your research on the topic 'Governance of schools.'
Next to every source in the list of references, there is an 'Add to bibliography' button. Press on it, and we will generate automatically the bibliographic reference to the chosen work in the citation style you need: APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.
You can also download the full text of the academic publication as pdf and read online its abstract whenever available in the metadata.
Browse dissertations / theses on a wide variety of disciplines and organise your bibliography correctly.
1
Young, Caprice Yvonne. "California charter public school governance a comparison of the academic achievement of schools grouped by governance model /." Diss., Restricted to subscribing institutions, 2009. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1693038471&sid=2&Fmt=2&clientId=1564&RQT=309&VName=PQD.
Full text
2
Dixon, Malcolm. "Primary school governance : the perspectives of head teachers and chairs of governance." Thesis, Liverpool John Moores University, 2015. http://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/4498/.
Full text
3
Mbengashe, Andile. "Improving school performance through effective SGB governance in previously disadvantaged schools." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021050.
Full textAbstract:
The lack of the visible and practical involvement of parents in schools that are in previously disadvantaged communities is not only depriving the present learners and their parents of their democratic right to participate in shaping their future, but that of the coming generation and leaders of tomorrow as well. South Africa as a country is about twenty years into democracy and already the education system has been chopped and changed about four times but with no success. The schooling system in previously black communities is deteriorating. The government of the day has been prioritising education for about fifteen years now, the budget for education is equal to the budget for the whole country in some of the neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe but the quality and standard are far worse than in those countries. The cost of the current problems in education mostly in previously black township schools is far too much to imagine. The main challenge seems to be the nature, character, skills and capabilities of parents serving in school governing bodies. This study is so important because of the situation that exists in schools that are situated in historically disadvantaged communities where the parents who get elected to school governing bodies are still, despite workshops and training offered by the Department of Education, unable to manage and govern schools and thus render the school governing body ineffective. The Department of Education through its programmes does conduct governance, financial management and policy formulation workshops. These efforts from the government side do not seem to bear any fruit because parents, after attending the training and workshops are still unable to create well-managed and properly governed schools. The primary objective of this study is to improve the organisational performance of schools in previously disadvantaged communities in the Uitenhage District of the Department of Education situated in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality by investigating how effective school governing body governance could contribute to such performance. More specifically, the study investigates the relationship between effective school governing body management, as a dependent variable, and parental/community involvement, finance and resource management, school governance, learner discipline/conduct, and quality education as independent variables. The population of the study was high school principals and school management team (SMT) members in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality focusing mainly on historically or previously disadvantaged schools in the Uitenhage district of the Department of Education. The study used convenience sampling where seventeen (17) high schools were selected. In each school, school management team members and a principal were requested to fill in a questionnaire. In total 105 questionnaires were distributed and 85 were fully completed and returned. Questionnaires were collected, data captured and analysed and a report was written. The empirical results revealed the following weaknesses in the SGBs of high schools in the Uitenhage District of the Department of Education in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality: the SGBs do not effectively formulate school policies; the SGBs do not effectively provide support to educators in performing their professional duties; the SGBs are not fully involved in supplementing resources supplied by the state in order to improve quality of teaching and learning; and the schools are weak on community engagement. On the other hand, the following positive elements of SGBs were highlighted in the empirical results; the schools are rated good regarding the following variables/issues: quality of teaching and learning, utilisation of school resources, school governance, professionalism of staff and extra-mural activities; the SGBs know and participate in the academic and extra-mural programmes of the schools; the SGBs successfully prepare the annual budget for the schools; the SGBs are effectively governing the schools; the SGBs do appoint auditors to audit the school's books and financial statements; the schools have achieved audited financial statements without a disclaimer; the schools have a disciplinary committee that deals with the learner code of conduct and attends to disciplinary problems. The study highlights areas in school governance that should be improved, as well as recommendations on how to improve them. Recommendations for future research are also provided.
4
Phumbwe, Dorothy Godfrey. "School level fundraising : exploring equity and governance in Tanzanian secondary schools." Thesis, University of Bristol, 2012. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.573475.
Full textAbstract:
Due to a lack of government sources for funding education, self-help initiatives have been practiced by schools and are being promoted internationally and within the policies of national governments as a viable means for funding schools. They are also regarded as valuable for enabling school-led quality improvements. Currently, there is rapid secondary education expansion in Tanzania, achieved through building community schools. These are constructed through cooperation between the government and local communities. Self-help activities have also been practiced in schools in order to supplement government resources. Although scholarship dealing with community financing exists, there is little research in Tanzania on school self-help activities. This study analyses the process of school level fundraising in Tanzania within the context of the rapid expansion of secondary education and considers the implications for social equity and school governance. The study draws upon critical theory to analyse social-power relations, social inequality and their effects on school governance and communities. Robertson, Bonal and Dale's governance framework and Bourdieu's social-capital theory are employed to explore the relationship between education governance and social and cultural reproduction. This is an exploratory study using mixed-methods with the qualitative component being more dominant. Although schools in Tanzania are supposed to report on the self-help activities they conduct, there is no clear overview and no records available from education offices. This necessitated a mapping exercise to find out what activities are being implemented on the ground through a questionnaire, to which 42 schools responded. This was followed by in-depth case studies conducted at two government- funded schools in Kilimanjaro region, a community school and a long-established school, on the role of different stakeholders and how they actually work. Informants included teachers, educational officials, members of the community and school board, who are key actors in the mobilisation of resources at school level. Although the public expansion of secondary education is aimed at reducing inequality, the findings suggest that there is class-based social reproduction as the flow of private finance increases the resource gap between schools and students. Community schools, which receive lower capitation grants from government, tend to serve a greater number of socio-economically disadvantaged students and hence are less likely to be able to raise funds. The findings also raise concerns about the possible low impact of self-help initiatives on improving quality. Uncertain social-power relations among stakeholders at different levels participating in the activities, lack of accountability and lack of effective support for schools at all levels, all have effects on school governance. The findings have implications for a policy of rapid secondary education expansion that expects significant community support for new schools. Despite the drawbacks, secondary expansion is still a step forward for equity as it has given access to secondary education, albeit of a lower quality, to many young people who otherwise would have had none. This study suggests policy priorities that are necessary to go along with the approach in order to ensure a positive impact. These consist of making sure that schools have certain essential resources; building capacities for education governance in communities and establishing a functioning education governance system which supports schools with more emphasis on improving quality and reducing inequalities.
5
Knowles, Kristopher. "Catholic School Leaders' Perceptions of Governance Models in Los Angeles Parochial Schools." Thesis, Loyola Marymount University, 2014. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3635963.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this quantitative study was to provide insight to the perspectives of leaders and individuals in authority within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles system of Catholic parochial schools regarding current models of governance, levels of authority, and decision-making processes. There is a lack of clearly-defined levels of decision-making authority from the bishops to the Archdiocesan Department of Catholic Schools down to the individual schools.
The pastors, principals, and Department of Catholic Schools personnel shared their perspectives of current governance structures and elements of three emerging alternative governance models. Data were analyzed through a factor analysis of the survey items to explore the strength of the three categories of the governance models represented by the three groups of questions. Next, the descriptive statistics of the specific questions relating to each of the three governance models and community voice were compiled. A Cronbach's alpha was calculated for each group of questions to measure internal consistency.
In order to explore relationships between perceptions among the three independent variable groups (pastors, principals, and Department of Catholic Schools personnel), a Chi-square analysis was run for each of the questions on an ordinal scale.
The study showed significant differences in participant responses between the three groups surveyed. However, there was agreement that community voice must be incorporated into governance, but only in a consultative manner. There was also agreement that a strong governing presence at the central office would be beneficial.
6
Knowles, Kristopher Leo. "Catholic School Leaders’ Perceptions of Governance Models in Los Angeles Parochial Schools." Digital Commons at Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School, 2014. https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/etd/201.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this quantitative study was to provide insight to the perspectives of leaders and individuals in authority within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles system of Catholic parochial schools regarding current models of governance, levels of authority, and decision-making processes. There is a lack of clearly-defined levels of decision-making authority from the bishops to the Archdiocesan Department of Catholic Schools down to the individual schools.
The pastors, principals, and Department of Catholic Schools personnel shared their perspectives of current governance structures and elements of three emerging alternative governance models. Data were analyzed through a factor analysis of the survey items to explore the strength of the three categories of the governance models represented by the three groups of questions. Next, the descriptive statistics of the specific questions relating to each of the three governance models and community voice were compiled. A Cronbach’s alpha was calculated for each group of questions to measure internal consistency.
In order to explore relationships between perceptions among the three independent variable groups (pastors, principals, and Department of Catholic Schools personnel), a Chisquare analysis was run for each of the questions on an ordinal scale.
The study showed significant differences in participant responses between the three groups surveyed. However, there was agreement that community voice must be incorporated into governance, but only in a consultative manner. There was also agreement that a strong governing presence at the central office would be beneficial.
7
au, l. payne@central murdoch edu, and Lesley Irene Payne. "School Governance: Phases, Participation and Paradoxes." Murdoch University, 2004. http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/adt/browse/view/adt-MU20040831.95132.
Full textAbstract:
This research analyses the governance structures and processes of thirteen independent primary schools in Perth, and one state primary school in Western Australia termed an alternative or lighthouse school. More in-depth case studies were undertaken at five sites with participants from different time periods. All the schools had a school council or board since their foundations and notably all schools had their origins in the period of the alternative school and community empowerment movement of the 1970s and 1980s.
In an era of market reform and the corporatisation of schools, the critical areas of focus for this research were: how community expectations and school identity were maintained within council-governed schools; how democratic imperatives compete with professionalism and school improvement issues; and how schools confront dilemmas of governance. Three frameworks, Phases of Development, Community Empowerment and Dilemmas, were employed as useful means to discuss school governance. The results revealed changes in governance over time. Schools began to envisage themselves less as communities and more as businesses. The emphasis was away from parent involvement and towards efficiency and commercial practices. Tensions and dilemmas arose out of these changes.
The thesis concluded that it was not the structures or individuals that were crucial in governance processes but the playing out of particular tensions and dilemmas. Principals and councils have to acknowledge the dilemmas that arise from competing values systems and make choices based on a clear understanding of these dilemmas.
8
Antonie, Lyson CHIGEDA. "Nurturing Deliberative Democracy in Public Secondary Schools in Malawi: School Governance and Pedagogies." 京都大学 (Kyoto University), 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2433/199429.
Full textAbstract:
Kyoto University (京都大学)0048
新制・課程博士
博士(地域研究)
甲第19105号
地博第179号
新制||地||61(附属図書館)
32056
京都大学大学院アジア・アフリカ地域研究研究科アフリカ地域研究専攻
(主査)教授 梶 茂樹, 教授 重田 眞義, 准教授 高田 明, 准教授 山名 淳
学位規則第4条第1項該当
9
Black, Shaun M. "An examination of urban school governance reform in Detroit Public Schools, 1999--2014." Thesis, Wayne State University, 2016. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10105019.
Full textAbstract:
In 1983, the A Nation at Risk report stated that our educational institutions in the United States and especially in urban areas were not meeting the educational needs of our students. Since A Nation at Risk, elected school boards in urban areas were under fire from the media, parents, other civic and community leaders, and voters due to fiscal irresponsibility and poor student achievement. In selected urban cities across the nation, elected school boards were replaced in favor of mayoral control (e.g., Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington DC) and appointed school boards (Wong et al., 2007). In 1999, the Detroit Public Schools (DPS) was taken over by the state of Michigan in an effort to reform the district. In 1998 prior to the state takeover, DPS had 261 schools, 167,000 students enrolled in the district, and a $93 million budget surplus. In 2014 after several years of state control, DPS had 97 schools (−62%), 47,000 students enrolled (−71%) in the district, and a $232 million budget deficit (−349%). During this same time period, DPS had eight different district leaders under three different school governance models. This qualitative historical case study developed an understanding of the overall impact of school governance reform on the institutional progress in DPS from 1999–2014. Institutional Progress examines the overall functioning of a school district in the areas of: leadership, educational programs, finances, personnel, community support and political support. This study also described the external and internal barriers preventing DPS from making institutional progress. This qualitative study utilized four data sources: interviews of current and former Detroit Public School personnel (i.e., school board members, central and building administrators, teachers, parents and community activists), Detroit Board of Education meeting minutes reports, daily newspaper coverage of DPS from the Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News, and city of Detroit archives on the annual State of the City Address given by Detroit mayors to determine whether or not institutional progress was achieved in DPS from 1999–2014. The findings of this study were the following: 1.) there was a lack of institutional progress in Detroit Public Schools; 2.) school governance reforms in DPS did not have a positive impact; and 3.) internal and external barriers prevented DPS from making institutional progress.
10
Thedy, Elizabeth. "AN ANALYSIS OF THE LEGAL, STATUTORY, AND GOVERNANCE ISSUES OF VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOLS." Doctoral diss., University of Central Florida, 2010. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ETD/id/2507.
Full textAbstract:
This study examined the legal, statutory, and governance issues facing virtual charter schools. Virtual models of schooling have the potential to change the face of public education as such schools challenge traditional forms of education. Legislators, policy makers, and school boards must carefully consider existing charter school legislation and determine whether such language is applicable to virtual charter school models. As virtual forms of schooling increase, and choice options for parents become more readily available, the challenge is to develop statutory language that is not overly restrictive but provides a framework from which authorizers and governing boards may operate to ensure the quality, equity, and fiscal responsibility of virtual charter schools. The focus of the study was on the existing legislation in the 19 states with current virtual charter school statutes. The qualitative examination of case law, combined with a review of statutory language, provided the sources of data. Recommendations for policymakers, legislators, departments of education, and school boards were developed to ensure the instructional quality control, the compliance with state and federal statute, and the financial security of virtual charter schools. In an era where choice in education has become mainstream, monitoring the quality of choice options becomes paramount. The development of policies and laws relative to the careful operation of virtual charter schools, from authorization, to governance, to appropriate funding is in the purview of the state. Case law developed in states such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin where the legality of virtual charter schools has been challenged provides the legal standards for other state legislatures. The establishment of carefully worded legislation that addresses the issues inherent in the next version of school choice is critical to the successful operation of virtual charter schools. Oversight for funding, attendance, curriculum and instruction, and teacher certification is critical in both the authorizing and governance of such schools. Legislation that details the process for enrolling district and out of district students, the process for how the funding flows from the state, to the district, to the virtual charter school, and how the students will be counted for accountability purposes is critical to the successful implementation of virtual charter schools.Ed.D.
Department of Educational Research, Technology and Leadership
Education
Educational Leadership EdD
11
Ramuntshi, Ndibuwo. "The involvement of parents in school governance in public secondary schools in Sibasa Circuit." Thesis, University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/1031.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (MPA) --University of Limpopo, 2013The study investigated the involvement of parents in school governance in Sibasa Circuit. Among others the study found that parents experience various challenges with their role in this regard. School Governing Bodies struggle to maintain a full complement of the parent’s component. However, there are various ways and means that can be used in order to improve the situation. The study used both qualitative and quantitative approaches in both data collection and analysis. The result from the study indicates that lack of capacity is a challenge to parents in contributing positively towards the involvement of school governance. The findings of this study have shown that there is a major concern that parents need to be given the opportunity to make inputs in the school. The study shows that the level of capacity and lack of ownership by parents is still a challenge; however the interest to change the status is still available by the parents. The recommendations suggest the following: • Parents should first be made familiar with the South African Schools Act of 84 of 1996. If parents could be educated on this Act, they would know the duties of governing bodies and what is expected from them. • The training should be conducted among all chairpersons, secretaries and treasurers in order for them to be taught how to conduct their duties; Effective consultation should be introduced in schools in order to encourage parents to be involved in school governance. Establishment of parental association can improve the involvement of parents in school governance. Parental association must educate parent members about the importance of communication. They must know that they have to communicate with other parents who are not members of the school governing body, because their duty is to represent their interests. This will help to foster parent involvement in school. Lastly, the National Department of Education needs to review Section 27 of South African Schools Act 84 of 1996 to include remuneration of school governing body members. This section is the one that states that no remuneration must be given to people for governing body duties. Remuneration can help to motivate parents to participate fully in governing body duties.
12
Dingle, Robert John. "Effective governors - effective schools? : a study of governor effectiveness and its association with school effectiveness." Thesis, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10443/674.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis examines the roles of governors within the contexts of the national framework for governance and the effect they have on schools. The field of research into the effects of school governors is an infant one. Little direct observation of governance has taken place and there is no true experimental research. In the absence of such work, the project developed a definition of effective governance through consideration of the descriptions of and prescriptions for governor activity. It used the definition to develop two research instruments. The first of these, a national questionnaire, produced some specific examples of a range of activities for governors and lead to the development of a second instrument. This, a schedule for semi- structured interviews, was applied to six case study schools. In these studies, governors and headteachers were interviewed conceming the characteristics of their goveming bodies and the outcomes for the schools were set against these characteristics. What emerges from these comparisons are some clear associations between effective outcomes and certain governor activities. These include training, monitoring, clear support for the school, the degree of trust gained with the staff, detailed knowledge of the school, and participation in school development planning. Overall, the conclusions point to connections between the manner in which governors conduct themselves and their business and the successes of the school that they govern.
13
Dick, Sithembele Leonard. "Examining parental involvement in governance at primary schools : case study of three township primary schools in the Western Cape." University of the Western cape, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/5566.
Full textAbstract:
Masters in Public Administration - MPAIn Wallacedene, the researcher became aware that minimum parental participation in school activities had reached alarming standards. This is related to learner performance which is of concern to educators, principals and education department officials. Parents are expected to perform certain roles in the governance of schools for the improvement of the quality of education in public schools. Parents are not honouring their obligatory responsibility of participation as required in terms of the public schools governing legislation. The research focused on parental involvement in primary schools in Wallacedene examining both the nature and extent of parental involvement in school governance. This study followed the qualitative approach to determine if parents are involved in school activities and governance. Questionnaires, interviews and document analysis were utilized for data gathering. Participants were members of the School Governing Bodies (SGB) of the three primary schools in the Wallacedene area. From the data gathered, the findings of the study indicated that parents in the townships of the Wallacedene area are not involved in school activities and governance. Issues of skills deficiency, low literacy levels, language barriers and socio-economic conditions seem to limit parental involvement in school governance. This study proposes possible recommendations to assist the school-based personnel and parents in developing and maintaining stronger and greater participation in school governance.
14
Woodward, Cathy Lee. "EFFECTIVENESS OF GOVERNANCE BOARDS IN TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND COMMUNITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN OHIO." Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK, 2006. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1155745089.
Full text
15
Sheppard, A. Paul J. "An analysis of the nature of the governance of international schools and the potential for securing appropriate governance." Thesis, University of Bath, 2012. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.557795.
Full textAbstract:
The aim of this enquiry was to ‘analyse the nature of the governance of international schools and the potential of accreditation for securing appropriate governance’. The research questions were: ‘What is the nature of the governance of international schools as experienced by heads of international schools?’ ‘What is the nature of the governance of international schools as experienced by representatives of organizations that accredit international schools, and the owners of international schools?’ and ‘What is the potential of accreditation for securing appropriate governance of international schools?’. The relevant literature was reviewed. Empirical data were collected by means of a questionnaire-based survey of heads, and interviews with: executives from accreditation organizations, representatives of owned schools and heads. A framework for the analysis of the data was developed, which employed two analytic distinctions: the ‘ownership’ of schools, and potential of a financial profit impetus. The main findings are as follows. The governance of international schools is not static, and successful governance is dependent upon the type of school and board structure. Boards tend not to receive proper and on-going training and many of the models of governance in use have inherent weaknesses, which require a more robust system of oversight. Governance structures and practice have not been able to keep pace with the increasing complexity of types of international schools. The organisations that accredit international schools, including their governance, have been unable to deal with the monitoring and enforcement standards of governance. Despite an inability of accreditation organisations to monitor and enforce standards of governance, they should take up this responsibility. To achieve this potential, a multi-faceted approach is necessary. Accreditation organizations need to gain further understandings of the governing of ‘owned schools’. Common guidelines and standards for governance will be required.
16
Punter, Anne Lucy. "School governors from business and industry : an analysis of their purposes and functions in the governance and management of schools." Thesis, University of Bedfordshire, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10547/285944.
Full textAbstract:
The theme of this thesis is the involvement of employees from business/industry in the governance of state schools in England and Wales. Following a conceptual analysis and the identification of imprecision in the relevant legislation, the research was designed in two phases. The Phase 1 survey examined the extent of that involvement in 1994 and built up a profile of employee-governors, including their personal and company characteristics. A questionnaire was used to gather descriptive and enumerative data from the school governors employed by twelve national companies, with further qualitative data amassed through some open questions on the questionnaire a,!d from semi-structured interviews of company managers. From 1995 to 1997, Phase 2 assessed the purposes, functions and skills of governors from this sector, through a quasi-experimental design which gathered pre-test and post-test data from thirty-five co-opted business/industrial governors, their headteachers and their chairs of governors. A Likert-type scaling instrument and focus group discussions were used. The main findings from the 1994 survey were that there were few governors from business and industry and even fewer were in governance to represent that sector of the community; most were parent governors. These governors and their company managers felt, however, that there were appreciable benefits to be gained from company employees being school governors. Phase 2 showed that the sample of specifically co-opted business/industrial governors adopted the distinctive purposes of objectivity and non-executive judgement, and brought generic management skills to governance through their company experience at a strategic level. These skills were especially appreciated in inner city schools. The research was the first study of governors from across business and industry and advanced the first model of practice related to purpose for governors from this sector of the community. Aspects of this model have been used to inform the Labour Government's policy for recruiting business/industrial governors for inner city schools.
17
Van, der Rheede Christo Owen. "Governance model for South African schools based on a case study at West Bank Secondary School /." Link to the online version, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10019/1258.
Full text
18
Van, Der Rheede Christo Owen. "Governance model for South African schools based on a case study at West Bank Secondary School." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/1875.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (MPA (School of Public Management and Planning))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005.The core business of schools is to develop, implement and sustain an effective and efficient curriculum delivery process in order to provide quality education to all learners. External and internal changes though constantly affect the effectiveness and efficiency of the curriculum delivery process and it is required of schools to adapt and meet the demands that are required by these external as well as internal changes. Successful adaptation in an ever-changing environment also depends on how successful a school transforms itself into a learning organisation, develops conducive learning circumstances for learners and encourages constant learning by staff members as well. Research in this respect indicates that principals play a very important role in transforming schools into learning organisations. Schools as learning organisations are also recognised as complex organisations, which consist of multiple relationships or linkages between educators, learners, parents, fellow colleagues, provincial and national education departments, government, service providers, as well as other stakeholders. These relationships are never stable, nor predictable and it requires of principals to monitor, understand and interpret changing circumstances and respond appropriately. Appropriate responses must reflect our country’s constitutional values, which promote collaboration and consultation with all stakeholders. It also requires of school principals to apply a leadership approach, which not only facilitates participation by all stakeholders, but which focuses on empowerment as well. Furthermore, the role of principals in leading and managing schools has changed tremendously and there is a great need to empower principals and school management teams with facilitatory-and-empowering leadership competencies. Such competencies will enable them to understand, interpret and manage change in collaboration with other role-players much more effectively. It will also enhance their ability to effectively lead and efficiently manage the curriculum delivery process and all other supportive systems, such as the academic planning, assessment, finance, procurement, maintenance and human resources systems. Considering the former, this study focuses on the development of a governance model for schools, which considers schools as complex organisations continuously affected by change in the external as well as internal environment. Hence, the governance model provides principals and senior staff members with the understanding how to manage these changes in terms of principles which are derived from complexity theory. Complexity theory informs the practice of school leadership coherently and provides principals with the insight to look at the school educational system as a whole in order to advance organisational effectiveness continuously. According to complexity theory, no system is stagnant; it constantly changes, adapts, learns and evolves. The governance model therefore outlines various facilitatory-and-empowering leadership approaches which are required to cope in an environment which are continuously affected by change. It also illustrates the supporting role of effective communication and sound labour relations in this respect and outlines various management roles, which are required of the principal to transform schools into learning organisations. The governance model also focuses in particular on three essential governance processes, which are applicable to the translation of monetary allocations into appropriate nonpersonnel resources. These governance processes are budgeting, cost management and information technology. The last part of the model focuses on the various control systems for quality assurance purposes, such as whole school evaluation, systemic evaluation, performance appraisal and risk management. In conclusion, West Bank secondary school was used as a case study to experiment with and study the impact of appropriate leadership approaches, management roles, governance processes and controls. The integration of existing research and practice knowledge at this institution aims to extend the scope of application of the governance model to all schools in South Africa and elsewhere in the world.
19
Pointing, Randall John. "Implementation of school councils in Queensland state primary schools." University of Southern Queensland, Faculty of Education, 2005. http://eprints.usq.edu.au/archive/00001487/.
Full textAbstract:
In Queensland, all state schools have the opportunity to decide the model of school-based management they would like to adopt for their school communities. For schools wishing to pursue the greatest level of school-based management, School Councils are mandatory. Because School Councils will play an important role as schools become increasingly involved in school-based management, the operations of newly formed Councils were the basis of this research. The main purpose of the study is to determine, through both literature and research, what makes an effective School Council. Although Education Queensland has identified roles and functions, as well as the rationale behind School Councils, clear guidelines to assist Councils with their implementation and to gauge the effectiveness of Councils do not exist. Because School Councils have only been implemented in Queensland for a very short period of time, there has been very little research undertaken on their operations. There are three main stages to this research. First, an extensive literature review explored the theoretical, research and policy developments in relation to school-based management and School Councils. Second, a pilot study was undertaken of an existing School Council that had been in operation for just twelve months. The final and most significant stage of the research involved multi-site case study of three newly formed School Councils, the research being conducted over a twelve-month period to obtain a longitudinal picture of their operations. Two general theoretical frameworks, based on the concepts of change theory and leadership theory, guided the research. Data from the study were analysed within these frameworks and within six focus areas that were identified from the literature and pilot study. These focus areas formed the basis for the development of criteria for the implementation of an effective School Council that were investigated in the three case studies. The focus areas were: 1. promoting the profile of the School Council within the school community; 2. developing well defined roles, responsibilities and functions of the School Council; 3. developing roles and relationships of School Council members; 4. promoting accountability, monitoring and reporting responsibilities; 5. providing training and professional development for all School Council members; and 6. improving the functioning and operations of the School Council. The research was conducted within the qualitative tradition. Specifically, the method adopted was multi-site case study. Data-collection techniques involved questionnaires, interviews with School Council members, observations of Council meetings and an analysis of Council documentation. The findings from the study outlined a number of theoretical understandings and suggested criteria to assist schools in developing a more effective Council, including examples of strategies to support their effective implementation. It is envisaged that the theoretical understandings, the suggested criteria and specific examples will be of benefit to other schools where School Councils are being formed by providing them with a structure that will assist in the beginning stages of the Council's operation.
20
Ntuli, Bonginkosi Abraham. "Stakeholders’ perspectives regarding parental involvement in governance and schooling in Hlabisa circuit schools." Thesis, University of Zululand, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10530/1657.
Full textAbstract:
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Education in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters Of Education in the Department of Foundations Of Education at the University Of Zululand, 2018The literature reveals that if schools lack parental involvement, effective management suffers significantly causing shortcomings in school governance and academic progress. The literature also shows that there exists a relationship between parental involvement and learner‟s academic achievements. It provides that learners whose parents care about their academic progress are likely to perform well on academic activities because such parents often communicate their wishes to children. This study is aimed at investigating stakeholders‟ perspectives on parental involvement in governance and schooling in Hlabisa Circuit schools. The theoretical framework from Epstein‟s theory of overlapping spheres of influence was used but not confined thereto; therefore, supporting theories relevant to this study were also applied. This study used a mixed methods research paradigm which integrates qualitative and quantitative designs as this approach provides convenience for data collection. The data was collected from respondents (educators and SGB members) using questionnaires and interviews. The research findings revealed that due to poor parental involvement in school governance, learners have developed errant behaviour. This emerging trend has triggered poor academic performance which taints the name of the school and the circuit in general. The results also show that if parents are inactive in school governance, poor academic performance is likely owing to the lack of parental guidance. The empirical findings noted educators‟ challenges on attendance of parent meetings, classroom management, learner discipline, effective school management, academic challenges and performance, accessibility of schools, parenting role, stakeholder communication, as well as curriculum and school-work. The SGB members noted challenges on effective involvement in leadership; instructional leadership; behavioural challenges in schools; management of school as an institution; shortcomings on academic resources provision; unemployment, poverty and school remoteness; parental obligations; home-school partnerships; and monitoring of the child‟s academic progress. The study concluded that parental involvement in school governance is not effective and therefore cripples the effect it should be having on schooling, which is academic performance in this context. The study ultimately recommends that SASA, NEPA, SACE and other relevant policies in education should be reviewed to enforce educators‟ authority in schools.
21
Carman, Donna Lynn. "A Case Study of a Nationally Recognized Middle School's Decentralized Participatory Governance Structure." PDXScholar, 1987. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/841.
Full textAbstract:
To effectively and substantively impact the realization of school improvement goals, there is a perceived need for the implementation of participatory processes that involve parents, patrons, students, and educators through decentralization of the planning, programming, and implementation phases. Related to this need is the pressing requirement of providing educational leaders with a greater understanding of what knowledge and skills they should possess to effectively guide and direct the implementation of decentralized participatory processes. An exploratory case study of a nationally recognized middle school's decentralized participatory structure was conducted. The purpose of this study was to provide the comprehensive context of an existing decentralized participatory structure from which needed knowledge and skills could be determined. The likelihood of successfully installing future partnership structures can be increased by providing educational leaders with a description, analysis, and interpretation of participatory involvements. The conclusions for the case study were arrived at through a triangulation approach of key-informant interviewing, participant observation at meetings, and an investigation of essential documents. This researcher concluded that the following skills and knowledge base are important for participatory leaders to possess to successfully implement, direct, and guide a decentralized partnership program: Skills. (1) Group dynamic skills; (2) Human relationship skills; (3) Communication skills; (4) Decision-making skills. Knowledge Base. A participatory leader must possess knowledge of (1) how to positively channel diversity, (2) motivation theory and ways to capitalize on motivation theory, (3) ways to develop participants' capacity to participate effectively, (4) how to effectively facilitate the communication and coordination between and among identifiable groups which interlace with the participatory process, (5) the school effectiveness literature, (6) how to balance high task and high relationship, (7) how people learn most effectively, (8) goal theory and ways to set goals through other people, (9) effective planning procedures, (10) change strategy and how to effectively accomplish goals through other people, (11) the benefits of participatory decision-making, (12) the benefits of decentralization, (13) a range of leadership styles, (14) effective management practices, and (15) how to model a decentralized participatory structure.
22
Spedding, Gladys. "'No qualifications are necessary' : effective governance in state secondary schools : model guidelines." Thesis, Northumbria University, 2006. http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/602/.
Full textAbstract:
Since the 19th century School Governors have gone through an extended period of change. The most recent legislative changes related to the New Relationship with Schools Agenda (NRwS) will challenge Governing Bodies and highlights the need for effectiveness and accountability. Today state secondary schools are legally required to have a corporate Governing Body which is responsible for appointing the Head Teacher, for strategic planning and for standards. Governors are representative of the community they serve and are expected to be `critical friend' to the Head Teacher. This research is aimed at developing a method of helping Governors become more effective by: examining empirically their performance and effectiveness; investigating the nature of volunteering; exploring the distinctions between School Governor practices and those of Non-Executive Directors in the business sectors; identifying not only the bathers to effectiveness but individual and organizational factors which enable a Governing Body to become more effective and then developing Model Guidelines which will help them to carry out its role more effectively. To achieve these aims an ethnographic methodology is used and the data gathering methods included: a pilot questionnaire survey; a pilot self evaluation exercise with a school experiencing problems; a questionnaire survey; a pilot elite interview; elite interviews with five experts and fieldwork in two state secondary schools. Most of the literature tends to focus on factual information whereas this study, whilst an academic piece of research, it is also intended to be a working tool for Governors. The findings are largely consistent with the literature; thirty two issues of concern have been identified. These in turn have been translated into five key issues, Governance and Structure, Guiding Principles, People and Processes and Conduct all within a culture of Review and Self Evaluation. The fifth key issue highlights criteria considered essential to the development of the Model Guidelines. The five key issues identified by the research constitute the parameters for the explicit, generic, applicable and hitherto unavailable Model Guidelines for School Governors.
23
Bambach, Matthew. "Maximising Board governance effectiveness in small and medium-sized Australian independent schools." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2020. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2310.
Full textAbstract:
My experience of working with boards of independent schools has led me to conclude that boards often struggle to know how they might make their governance more effective. Very little has been written and few empirical studies have investigated governance of independent school boards in Australia, despite the considerable responsibility and power entrusted to them. This study asks how well such boards are governing and what they could do to engender fully effective governance.
Currently, there are no standards or instruments for assessing the effectiveness of board governance. This study identified seven governance effectiveness factors (GEFs) from the literature on governance in schools and other non-profit organisations. These factors were used as assessment instruments in seven case studies of school boards in small to medium-sized independent schools. The research was predominantly qualitative and involved four research methods: a survey, semi-structured interviews, a review of board documents and observation of board meetings.
The data were explored by assessing the GEFs within each case and across cases. The findings showed that five boards demonstrated poor governance effectiveness, one was very poor and only one was effective. Three unexpected themes emerged from the data, showing how boards can move towards governance by delegating operational management of the school to the principal. These involve boards understanding, first, the nature of governance and developing the intention to govern effectively, second, when and how to make the difficult transition from operational management to governance, and third, how to adapt their approach to governance as they gain experience with it. A model of this transition process and a framework to guide managers and researchers through key decisions were developed. These fill a critical gap in the literature on board management in independent school governance.
24
Mafuwane, Barber Mbagwa. "The influence of community structures on school governance with specific reference to schools in the Bushbuckridge area." Pretoria : [s.n.], 2005. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-03302005-091410/.
Full text
25
Mafuwane, Barber Mbangwa. "The influence of community structures on school governance with specific reference to schools in the Bushbuckridge area." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/23583.
Full textAbstract:
This study probes into the influence of community structures on school governance in South African public schools, with specific reference to schools in the Bushbuckridge area. The study departs from the premise that education as a public domain and its governance should not be left exclusively to teachers, but to all who have genuine interest in it. It starts by looking at the partial devolution of decision-making authority to school committees, school boards and committee boards which governed schools in term of the Education Act of 1953 (Bantu Education Act 47 of 1953) and Government Notice No. R642 of 8th May 1964. The devolution of decision-making authority to the above structures is regarded as partial because these structures were made up of parents only, leaving out teachers, learners and other stakeholders in the school governing bodies (SGBs) as representing all the groups which are directly affected by activities in the school namely, parents of learners at the school, learners in the eight grade and higher, educators at the school and non-educator members. In view of the fact that parents, in particular, may belong to some structures in their communities, such as a church or a tribal authority, this study probes if such community structures may have an influence on the manner in which schools are governed. Chapter one of this study focuses on the aims of the study, general orientation and background, the method of studying the problem, the purpose of the study as well as elucidation of operative research concepts. Chapter two focuses on the pre-1994 school governance model i.e the governance by school committees, committee boards and school boards. This investigation is primarily aimed at establishing if this model had an influence on how schools are governed today. In chapter three, emphasis is placed on the three community structures, namely church formations, tribal authorities and SGBs. The context within which these structures are regarded as community structures is explained and samples of members from the churches and tribal authorities are interviewed and a case study for the SGBs is conducted. An ideal typical school governance structure is also consolidated. In chapter four the responses of the subjects to the interviews and the case study are analysed. This chapter also discusses the final research findings, presents a conclusion and recommendations for further research.Dissertation (MEd (Education Management and Policy Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2005.
Education Management and Policy Studies
unrestricted
26
Joorst, Jerome Paul. "The nature of the representative council of Learner (RCL) members' participation on the school governing bodies of two primary schools in the Western Cape." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2007. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_4757_1256304733.
Full textAbstract:
This study is based on an investigation into the way RCL members participate in the deliberation of their School Governing Bodies. The study was conducted in two primary schools in the Western Cape town of Vredenburg. The research participants were members of the Representative Council of Learners from these schools. Focus group discussions as well as in depth interviews were used to explore the RCL members' views on the nature of their participation during SGB deliberations. the main fining of this study is that, due to external as well as in-school factors, a huge gap exists between normative RCL policy exp[ectations and the actual manifestation policy in the real world of the RCL members' schools. the findings of the study reveal a lack of participative capacities among these RCL members, which, in combination with a non participative culture at their homes, the community and the school, leads to learners being excluded from democratic processes.
27
Walton, Nina. "Applications of game theory corporate governance, private school admissions and settlement negotiations /." Diss., Restricted to subscribing institutions, 2008. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1680034811&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=1564&RQT=309&VName=PQD.
Full text
28
Stock, Mark Julius. "Perceptions of recommended changes in school board governance of public schools as perceived by Indiana school board presidents and superintendents." Virtual Press, 2002. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1238743.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of the study was to determine the perceptions of Indiana school board presidents and superintendents on recommendations for board governance. A second purpose was to determine the current usage of these recommendations for board governance among Indiana school boards.A questionnaire consisting of 42 Likert-response items was mailed to the superintendent and board president of the 294 public school districts in Indiana. The return rate was 63 percent for board presidents and 82 percent for superintendents.The following conclusions were formulated: (a.) board presidents appear most likely to support recommended changes in school board governance in areas of Planning, Board Development, Collective Bargaining, and Curriculum/Staff Development; (b.) superintendents appear most likely to support recommended changes in school board governance in the areas of Board Development, Collective Bargaining, and Curriculum/Staff Development; (c.) board presidents and superintendents appear most likely to differ in their responses to recommendations for changes in school board governance in the areas of Planning, Personnel, Managing Schools and Budget; (d.) board presidents and superintendents from the same school districts are not likely to differ significantly in their opinions about whether or not their board is currently practicing recommended changes in school board governance.Indiana board presidents nor superintendents agreed with authorizing charter schools, hiring administrative law judges or other qualified third parties to hear appeals on students and staff members' due process rights, or establishing a procedure outside of the school board for hearing and deciding constituent complaints. Nor did they agree the board should grant full authority to the administration to approve individual claims or approve change orders on construction projects less than $1,000,000.Department of Educational Leadership
29
Molnar, Carole Ann. "Parent and teacher views on parent involvement in local school governance in two elementary, urban schools in Saskatchewan." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1998. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp01/MQ30522.pdf.
Full text
30
Rivas, Carlos A. Jr. "Mayoral Control of Public Schools: Governance as a Tool to Improve Student Achievement." Scholarship @ Claremont, 2012. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/428.
Full textAbstract:
Mayoral control of public schools as a solution for failing schools and low student achievement. This thesis analyzes different models of governance, the types of students served in districts with mayoral control, and the types of solutions implemented by mayors (charter schools, voucher programs, and the tools of NCLB) and whether there has been any success to mayoral control than mere anecdotal evidence.
31
Nongubo, Mphuthumi J. "An investigation into perceptions of learner participation in the governance of secondary schools." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015747.
Full textAbstract:
The question of learner participation or involvement in school governance has been a thorny issue in South Africa for decades. This study investigated secondary learners’ participation in the governance of their schools through representation by the Representative Council of Learners (RCLs), formerly known as school representative councils (SRCs). The study attempted to find out how learners participation is perceived by both the RCLs and the School Management Teams (SMTs). The study was conducted in five secondary schools in the Eastern Cape townships of Grahamstown. The research participants were members of School Management Teams and Representative Councils of Learners from these schools. The study was oriented in an interpretive paradigm following a qualitative approach. Questionnaires and in-depth semi-structured interviews were used to explore the perceptions of the two groups involved. The Department of Education documents that sanction RCL participation were referred to throughout and especially when analysing the respondents’ views. The main finding of the study is that learner involvement in school governance is still problematic, though it is presently provided for by policies that govern schools, including the South African Schools Act and the Guides for Representative Councils of Learners of 1999, in which their roles are outlined. The findings of the study reveal an indecisive and autocratic mindset among educators regarding the issue of learner involvement in governance and management. Furthermore, the Department of Education documents in place betray a narrow conception of RCL participation in school governance and still display an element of mistrust towards the learners concerning their roles in governance. As a result of these forces, the democratic potential of learner participation is undermined, and RCLs compromised as legitimate stakeholders.
32
Tashi, Sonam. "School-community partnerships: Bhutanese principals' impact on community involvement in schools." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2022. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/233666/1/Sonam_Tashi_Thesis.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
This study investigated the effect of School-Community Partnerships model for school improvement in Bhutan, and the challenges faced by both schools and communities in relation to the implementation of the policies and programs on democratic governance. Using qualitative methodology the study collected data from school and community leaders to understand how SCP may support the transition to new democratic leadership. The findings indicate a complex mix of variables such as, complementarity of national and school level leadership, cultural sensitivity and, empowerment and accountability which have capacity to strengthen SCP and thus require significant capacity development by the government.
33
Watts, Kathleen Louise. "The Bethesda relational healing model and student Peer Governance Program : a mixed-method study of their effects on behavior, relationships, and climate in a Christian school /." Free full text is available to ORU patrons only; click to view, 2008. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1860334641&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=456&RQT=309&VName=PQD.
Full text
34
Mnukwa, Zolile Maxwell. "An investigative study of parental involvement in the governance of public and private schools in the Matatiele Distict of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa." Thesis, Walter Sisulu University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/11260/d1006644.
Full textAbstract:
This is a comparative study of parental involvement in the governance of public and private schools in the Matatiele District of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Parental involvement can range from occasional attendance of the school functions to partnership through parent teacher organizations and parent management bodies. Education is a national enterprise that requires the co-operation and participation of all the role players who are parents, community, teachers, learners and the Department of Education. The problem to be investigated in this study is: Why is it that parental involvement is more positive in the governance of private schools than that of public schools? Two schools were selected for the study and the researcher administered questionnaires personally by hand and conducted face to face interviews to collect the primary data. The responses of the administered questionnaire were tabulated and recorded in table form so as to give an accurate interpretation of what was revealed in the data. Patterns in the data were considered in order to provide an accurate interpretation of the information. The findings were divided into two, that is: findings from the public school and those from private schools. From the public school it was found that: parents are not involved in the governance of the school; the school does not involve parents on financial matters; parents do not attend meetings when invited; they do not know their roles and responsibilities, for example, according to the South African Schools Act (SASA), parents must be actively involved in the governance of the school in their community and that there is an element of ignorance and negligence on the part of parents towards their children’s education. From the private schools it was found that: parents are more involved in the governance of the school; they attend and participate actively in school meetings; the school involves parents in financial matters and as such the financial support from the parents is very good; parents are much involved in the monitoring of the progress of their learner’s education and are passionate about the school and seem to own the policies and the governance of the whole school system. The conclusion drawn from the study is that private schools allow for parental involvement in the governance of their schools whereas in public schools parental involvement is low.
35
Jonas, Patrick Thando. "The governance of public special schools in the Western Cape : a comparative analysis of Jan Kriel School and Thembalethu ELSEN School." Thesis, Link to the online version, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10019/1060.
Full text
36
Niitembu, Martha M. "Stakeholders' perceptions of parents' involvement in the governance of a Namibian rural school." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003655.
Full textAbstract:
The issue of decentralisation has been one of the top priorities of the Namibian education system since independence in 1990. One of the decentralisation aims was to enhance parental involvement in education by establishing School Boards. However, School Boards and the role of parents in school management have been considered ineffective for several years which led to the promulgation of Education Act 16 of 2001 in which the roles of School Boards are strengthened and clarified. This study sought to investigate School Board members’ perceptions, understanding and experiences of parents’ involvement in school governance more specifically after the implementation of the Education Act of 2001 in 2003. This study is an interpretive case study of one combined rural school in the Ohangwena educational region of Namibia. This research employed three data collection techniques, namely semi-structured interviews, observation and document analysis. The main findings of this study reveal that there is a lack of joint understanding and shared vision between educators and parents in the School Board. This problem underpins other more symptomatic problems, such as lack of accountability in the matter of school finances, differences in understanding the roles of School Board members and lack of parents’ motivation from the school management. The study further reveals the ineffectiveness and insufficiency of the training provided in the past. It highlights some of the challenges that hinder the effective involvement of parents in rural school governance, such as poor educational background among parents, poor knowledge of the English language and poor understanding of educational issues. However the findings also acknowledge parents’ participation and their full involvement in decision-making. The findings show that the new School Board elected in terms of the Education Act of 2001 has been more effective than previous School Boards and has reached a number of achievements such as being instrumental in solving disciplinary problems, purchasing school assets and renovating classrooms. Recommendations for practice and for further research are made.
37
Zuma, Nandipha. "A study of parental participation in school governance in selected high schools : Zwelitsha Township, Province of the Eastern Cape." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1305.
Full textAbstract:
This study investigates parental involvement in school governance in selected high schools in Zwelitsha, King Williams Town District in the Eastern Cape Province. The research study was conducted in three high schools in Zwelitsha Township. These schools are Nompendulo Senior Secondary, Thembalabantu High School and Xolani Senior Secondary School. Questionnaires were designed and distributed to the principals, educators and parents whose children are learners in these schools. The interview questions were designed and distributed to parents whose children are learners in these selected schools, educators and school principals and members of the school governing body from each school. Respondents were asked about the levels of parental involvement in their schools, parents’ awareness of school governance and the relationship between schools and communities. However, the objectives of the study were to: Assess parental involvement in school governance in selected high schools in Zwelitsha, King Williams Town District in the Province of the Eastern Cape; To determine the nature and extent of parental participation in school academic activities; To examine the role of parents in the school governing body; To determine measures that can be taken to encourage the participation of parents in school governance These objectives have been achieved by providing empirical evidences which shows that the levels of parental involvement in the previously disadvantaged high schools are very low. This is related to the parents’ level of education. Parents who are literate are more involved than those are illiterate. This research also reveals that high v. levels of working parents contributes to the low levels of parental involvement in school governance. Most parents in this area know nothing about school governance and those that are aware are not keen to be involved. The class structure of the society has an influence in the participation of parents in school governance. Parents’ meetings that are held on Sunday afternoon are a challenge to parents that come from the villages outside Zwelitsha because of the scarcity of transport on this day. and these situations discourage them from being actively involved in their children’s education. The study provides the factors that cause non-involvement of parents in school governance. Subsequently, the following strategies for participation of parents in school governance were given: Capacitating of parents Establishment of teacher-parent collegiality Recognition of cultural capital Establishment of parent organisations Utilisation of non-governmental organisations Establishment of centres of learning. This study also indicates the following strategies that may assist to enhance the parental involvement in school governance: Parents engagement and empowerment Co-operation between schools and parents Collaboration with other community, private and other public institutions Invitation of complaints and welcoming of criticism. In conclusion, the findings provide clear indication that the participation of parents in school governance is low. Recommendations that could assist the schools to encourage and to enhance parents to participate in school governance are given.
38
Okaya, Tom Mboya. "School board governance in urban low-socio economic setting: A case study of public primary schools in Kibera, Kenya." Thesis, Australian Catholic University, 2015. https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/download/a9ada7e3f937a4e4fe7209b22153eea49528562e0e5d4d05112e2afb3a0947fe/4206102/201511_Tom_Okaya_PhD_Thesis_2015.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
The global trend in the management of public school systems is systematic decentralisation of authority and responsibility to the school level. The local community, through their representatives in the school boards or committees, are mandated to make decisions on significant matters related to school operations. This devolution of authority and responsibility to school level decision-makers is intended to ensure transparency, accountability, ownership and provision of quality education. Although the public primary school boards have been in existence in Kenya since the 1980s, they became more prominent after the introduction of free primary education in 2003 and the determination to realise the education for all goal in the year 2015. In urban low socioeconomic settings such as Kibera slum, the boards operate under extremely difficult conditions. Most of the board members are low income earners with relatively low levels of education, and yet they are expected to provide effective and strategic leadership to the schools. Paradoxically, some schools within this setting have performed much better than schools in well-off settings. It is not clear, though, if the performance of such schools could be attributable in any way to their school boards. This study was necessitated by the paucity of literature on the efficacy of public primary school boards in developing nations and in urban low socioeconomic settings. Invitational Education Theory and Practice, Ecological System Theory, and Pragmatism provided the theoretical framework used to describe the operation and impact of public primary school boards in Kibera slum in Kenya. Kibera is the largest informal settlement in Sub-Saharan Africa and one of the five largest slums in the world. According to invitational theory, a school is considered inviting if the physical environment, people, processes, policies and programs are conducive to teaching and learning. Ecological systems theory posits that a child’s development is affected by both family and ecological factors (social, political, biological and economic conditions). To explore how the public primary school boards are effective in assuring quality education is provided to slum children, despite the internal and external factors, this study adopted the pragmatic stance. There is a growing trend of school-based management movement towards model of corporate governance. Although several models of decentralisation existed their differences were based on where the locus of decision-making lies — administrative, professional and/or community. Board membership and the relationship between the board and the principal or head teacher were challenging aspects of the governance in most of the developed countries. The overarching goal of this study was to determine, from participants’ perceptive, how the public primary school boards in urban low socioeconomic settings in Kenya impacted upon the school climate, parental involvement and pupils’ performance.
39
Ntsimango, Ncedile Stewart Lungisa. "An examination of the nexus between school management and governance : a case of selected schools in the Eastern Cape Province." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1885.
Full textAbstract:
School management and governance has become essential in improving quality of education in public schools (Caldwell, 2012). Furthermore, the existence of a well-established partnership between school governors and school managers is vital to ensure that students receive quality education. On this regard, the study sought to broaden an understanding the thin line between School Management Teams (SMT) and School Governing Bodies (SGB) which is frequently crossed by both parties while executing their roles and responsibilities. The population for the study was SGB members, SMT members and general staff members of public schools in the Eastern Cape Province. The study unit was Willowvale (KwaGcaleka kuGatyane) a circuit named after a great amaXhosa king Zwelidumile, King Zwelidumile Circuit. Purposive sampling method was used because collection of data required that respondents be familiar with the concepts of school management and school governance. A mixed method research methodology was used which include a combination of qualitative and quantitative research approaches. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data and an interview guide was used to facilitate focus group interviews. Qualitative and quantitative data was analysed separately. Quantitative data analysis was done and presented as descriptive statistics, Analysis of variance (ANOVA) Pearson’s correlation and T-test. For the purpose of testing the reliability of the scales of questions included in the questionnaire, the Cronbach’s alpha was used. Qualitative data analysis was done through the researcher`s critical reasoning and analysis of focus group discussions of interviewees. The research found out that lack teamwork, transparency and ineffective leadership are the root cause of failure to recognise strategic and operational boundaries that exist between SGBs and SMTs. Also understanding of the distinction and overlaps between School governance and school management is important to ensure strong relationships, trust and respect between the SGBs and the SMTs. More so, the research observed lack of strategic and operational synergy between SGBs and SMTs. Consequently, the research recommends the importance of training and development to both SGBs and SMTs so that they understand their roles and responsibilities as stated in the SASA Act. SGBs and the SMTs should strive to forge strategic and operational synergy. Trust and respect must prevail from the SGB since they are the major stakeholders of the schools. Effective communication was seen as crucial to building partnerships and ensuring collaboration. Finally, the research recommends that research should be conducted regularly in order to keep track of the state of school management and governments in public schools.
40
DeHart, Joseph Craig. "The effects of student input into school organization, operation and governance on dropout rate in Iowa alternative schools and programs." [Ames, Iowa : Iowa State University], 2007.
Find full text
41
Mabovula, Nonceba Nolundi. "A philosophical exploration of democratic participation in school governance in selected South African black schools in the Eastern Cape Province." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/1224.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (PhD (Education Policy Studies))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.Since the dawn of democracy in South Africa in 1994, the South African Education System embarked on an all important democratisation process. In schools, this included attempts to dismantle the concentration of powers to include all stakeholders in the governance of schools. Through this, government wanted to ensure that education in its entirety is geared towards development. This includes the birth of the South African Schools Act, which states that a school governance structure should involve all stakeholder groups in active and responsible roles, and encourage tolerance, rational discussion and collective decision - making. This, in spite of the Act, did not prevent schools, particularly black schools, from excluding learners from exercising their democratic rights in terms of the Act. This led to the perennial question underpinning this study: what idea of democratic participation could prevent the exclusion of learner voices in school governance? The study proceeds from using the broad theory of democratic participation to include a liberal democratic approach. It argues for an inclusive democratic participation to enable/promote a stable school environment. The basic concept is that each school governance individual is to be treated equally, and with due regard to his/her actual personal preferences. Three distinct and inseparable methods of inquiry, namely conceptual analysis, deconstructive analysis and the use of narratives, and three forms of data capturing in the form of questionnaires, focus group analysis and journal entries are employed. Research findings revealed six problem areas that had emerged from the data which shows that the situation in the structure of school governance is far from ideal. I then introduced the deliberative democratic school governance (DDSG) perspective as a tentative solution, as it became apparent that quite a number of crucial issues are lacking in the structures of school governance. These uncertainties and attitudes undermine the role of learners in governance and also segregate their legitimacy in the decision - making processes of a democratic state. Deliberative democratic school governance (DDSG) therefore becomes the vehicle through which schools should address the continuous uncertainties and impediments that govern their operations in the school community and the staggering lack of partnership within the school governance structure. I argue and suggest that deliberative processes could be effective if they can be fused with an African culture. The debate has to move from a ‘Western’ deliberative democratic participation model to one that both deals with and addresses the bigger picture of ‘African’ democratic participation which is driven by the belief that a person possessing ubuntu will have characteristics such as being caring, humble, thoughtful, considerate, understanding, wise, generous, hospitable, socially mature, socially sensitive, virtuous and blessed, thus marking a shift from confrontation to conciliation. Finally, the study identifies the need for moral ethics and democratic/social justice to help address the complex societal issues which influence learner outcomes and insists that schools become accountable for creating an authentic supportive school environment for all communities and its role players. Moral ethics, in its fight against violence and crime, will provide a guide for educators, learners and parents. Its aims of ethical living and democratic justice will provide the basis for a framework of balance and harmony within these groups or society.
42
Jonas, Patrick Thando. "A scorecard for monitoring and evaluation of governance of special schools in the Western Cape." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/17975.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Conflicts and dysfunctionality in public schools is often the cause of poor school performance and learner outcomes. This often is a direct result of poor school governance. Studies have previously identified a number of factors affecting the standard of school governance. One of these is absence of an effective monitoring and evaluation system for school governance. The current approach of Whole School Evaluation, which incorporates the Integrated Quality Management System (IQMS), unfortunately does not possess adequate tools for the measurement of school governance with view to identifying specific areas of failure. School governance failures are widespread and costly, but effective governance can provide significant benefits not just for the schools but also for the department, the community and the learners themselves. However, there are two challenges: moving beyond suggestive anecdotes to a systematic approach for measuring the governance of schools, and using the data and rigorous analysis to support schools and improve governance. The researcher has designed a measurement instrument to address this particular gap in the management of public schools. This takes the form of a balanced scorecard based on the Kaplan and Norton Model, but has been specifically developed for measuring the public, education and non-profit sector. A number of school governance performance areas based on regulatory frameworks such as the South African Schools Act (Act 84 of 1996) have been linked to specific indicators and measures. These performance areas related to key targets in order to ascertain the achievement of good school governance outcomes. A learning and developmental approach in the form of a peer review format using a clear and simple process has been developed to apply this measurement system. Through an evaluation study the normative model was applied and tested at selected special schools throughout the Education Management and Development Centres (EMDC) in the Western Cape to test the hypothesis that such a balanced scorecard effectively measures school governance while identifying actual areas of failure. It therefore enables School Governing Bodies (SGBs) to focus on these failures in order to improve school governance and therefore promote the schools’ overall performance. The outcomes of the study have been so impressive that the system can be further developed with stakeholder organisations utilising an online approach that can improve management and save time in view of the schools’ “time-on-task” focus. This is the national government term for time management in teaching and learning in schools. Participants at selected schools further indicated that, with effective orientation and training of SGBs and application teams, this instrument can produce good school and learner outcomes.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Konflik en wanfunksionering in openbare skole is dikwels die oorsaak van swak skoolprestasie en leerder-uitkomste. Dit is dikwels ‘n direkte gevolg van swak skoolbestuur. Vorige studies het ‘n aantal faktore geïdentifiseer wat die standaard van skoolbestuur raak. Een van hulle is die afwesigheid van ‘n stelsel vir “doeltreffende monitering en evaluering” van skoolbestuur Die huidige benadering van Totale Skoolevaluering wat die Geïntegreerde Gehaltebeheerstelsel (IQMS) insluit, beskik ongelukkig nie oor voldoende meting van skoolbestuur met die oog op die uitkenning van spesifieke tekortkominge nie. Waar tekortkominge ten opsigte van skoolbestuur wydverspreid en duur is, is dit ook so dat doeltreffende bestuur beduidende voordele kan hê, nie alleenlik vir skole nie, maar ook vir die departement, die gemeenskap en die leerder as sulks. Daar is egter twee uitdagings wat gestel word: om verby voorgestelde wenke te beweeg na ‘n sistematiese benadering vir die meet van die bestuursaard van skole, en om van die data en nougesette analise gebruik te maak om skole te ondersteun en hulle bestuur ‘n helpende hand te bied. Die navorser het ‘n meetinstrument ontwerp om hierdie spesifieke gaping in die bestuur van openbare skole aan te spreek. Dit is in die vorm van ‘n gebalanseede telkaart, gebaseer op Kaplan en Norton (1996), maar wat spesifiek vir die meet van die openbare, onderwys- en nie-winsgewende sektor ontwikkel is. ‘n Aantal prestasies wat spesifiek met skoolbestuur te make het en op regulerende raamwerke soos die Suid-Afrikaanse Skolewet gerig is, is gekoppel aan spesifieke indikatore en maatreëls en met sleutel-teikens belyn met die oog op die bereiking van skooluitkomste. ‘n Leer- en ontwikkelingsbenadering in die vorm van ‘n portierhersieningsformaat, waar ‘n duidelike en eenvoudige proses gebruik is, is ontwikkel om hierdie metingstelsel toe te pas. ‘n Normatiewe model is deur middel van ‘n evalueringstudie toegepas en aan geselekteerde, spesiale skole regdeur die Onderwysbestuur en Ontwikkelingsentrums in Wes-Kaapland getoets met die doel om die hipotese te toets dat so ‘n gebalanseerde telkaart skoolbestuur doeltreffend meet en tegelykertyd ook tekortkominge identifiseer. Vervolgens stel dit Skoolbeheerliggame in staat om op hierdie tekortkominge te fokus ten einde skoolbestuur te verbeter en daarmee saam die skool se oorhoofse prestasie te bevorder. Die resultaat van die studie was so indrukwekkend dat die stelsel verder in samewerking met belanghebbende instansies ontwikkel kan word deur die gebruikmaking van ‘n aanlyn-benadering wat bestuur kan bevorder en tyd spaar, veral in die lig van skole se fokus op “tyd op ‘n taak.” Deelnemers by geselekteerde skole het aangedui dat dié instrument puik skool- en leerder-uitkomste sou kon lewer indien daar doelmatige oriëntasie en opleiding van Skoolbeheerliggame en toepassingspanne is.
43
Morolong, Itumeleng Percival. "Impediments to parental involvement in the governance of selected primary schools in the Bloemfontein area." Thesis, Bloemfontein : Central University of Technology, Free State, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/11462/21.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M. Tech)(Education) -- Central university of Technology, Free State, 2007The aim of the study is to determine the impediments to parental involvement in the governance of selected primary schools in the Bloemfontein area. It also examines the impact of the principals’ attitudes as perceived by the parents towards their involvement in the governance of the school; the means of communication between the school and parents; whether co-operation between the principal and parents affects school governance; and whether familiarity with parents’ roles as stipulated in the South African Schools Act affects their participation in school governance. The literature was consulted on the segregated education of the previously disadvantaged people under apartheid. The transition from apartheid to education under the new political dispensation, as set out in the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996 also received attention. The study further addresses the issue of parents’ reluctance to participate in school governance and the views of teachers and parents on their roles in school governance. Ministerial investigation into the effectiveness of school governing bodies is presented and an international perspective on school governing bodies is also provided. A quantitative method using survey research method was employed in this study and a questionnaire was used to collect data. The aim was to elicit responses from the parents in as far as impediments to parental involvement in the governance of schools is concerned. It was revealed, however, that despite the parents’ reluctance to take part in school governance, principals’ attitudes were found to have a positive effect on parental participation in school governance. Methods of communication between the school and the parents were found to be effective, though a suggestion is made for improvement. Parents were found to be willing to co-operate with one another for the betterment of the school. Furthermore, parents were found to be familiar with the roles of members of the school governing body, irrespective of whether they are members of the school governing body or not.
44
Maharaj, Ameerchund. "The development and implementation of school governance policy in South African Schools Act (SASA) and the Western Cape Provincial School Education Act (WCPSA)." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2005. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&.
Full textAbstract:
The study was concentrated on the period following the first democratic elections for a new government in South Africa, that is, post -1994 up to the year 2000. The change from a system based on fixed apartheid ideology to a more open and democratic one meant that the political scene became more characterized by fierce competition and volatility. The aim of the research was to understand the nature of the contestation as it manifests itself in both the development and implementation of school governance policy at national, provincial and local levels in a climate of political change and turbulence.
45
Smith, William A. Jr. "Parental Involvement in Schools: A Phenomenological Study of Four High Schools in a Rural East Tennessee County." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2001. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/86.
Full textAbstract:
Parental involvement is a combination of commitment and active participation from parents to the school and to the student. Parental involvement defines the family’s role as educator and the crucial importance of family involvement to students’ success in schools. Some researchers and practitioners consider positive parental involvement the most prominent predictor of student success. Parents can increase children’s academic success through involvement with schools and communities. Parental involvement improves student morale, attitudes, and academic achievement across all subject areas.
The purpose of this study was to examine the views of parents, students, teachers, and administrators concerning parental involvement in four high schools in a rural East Tennessee county. The study also attempted to determine if the views of these parents, students, teachers, and administrators are consistent with published reports on parent involvement. Data were collected from administrators, students, parents, and teachers through an open-ended interview format designed by the researcher.
The findings from this study offer a number of recommendations regarding how high schools can develop partnership programs that involve families in ways that go beyond their participating as audience or witness to their children’s schooling to their participating as partners with the school in promoting teen’s learning. Participants desired effective home/school communications as well as a home environment that encouraged learning activities and suggested effective ways volunteers could be used at the high school level. Major recommendations include high schools forging connections with all families and providing options to increase their involvement at school as well as at home; establishing formal parent support organizations; developing partnerships that strengthen school-family relationships through authentic dialogue, collaboration, and mutual respect between families and educators; increasing opportunities for home/school communication; and creating a learning community where school personnel, students, parents, and community members view themselves as stakeholders.
46
Poswa, Sakumzi. "Inhibiting factors to the role of representative council of learners in participative governance of schools: a case study of selected schools in the Qumbu District in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa." Thesis, Walter Sisulu University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11260/484.
Full textAbstract:
This study was conducted in four Qumbu District schools The literature review enabled the researcher to understand the current discourses in terms of learners’ participation in the governance of schools through the Representative Council of Learners Through the methodological application of triangulation, the study produced data on which findings were based and recommendations made Generally, evidence from the collected data reveals issues worth the attention of the researcher and relevant authorities Some of the evidence in this study was that there is need to involve learners in decision making; that the learners who are elected to be members of the RCL should be provided with orientation and training so that they become aware of the content of policy documentations that govern their roles and responsibilities These RCL members are supposed to be considered as potential decision makers and leaders in their schools It is therefore the responsibility of schools and the Department of Education to provide orientation and training for these learners so as to equip them adequately with leadership information and to develop their skills in order for them to be able to play their roles responsibly In concluding, the researcher believes that solutions to the problems identified can be resolved by considering the recommendations for implementation.
47
Robbie, Byron. "Beyond inclusion : transforming the educational governance relationship between First Nations and school districts in British Columbia /." Burnaby B.C. : Simon Fraser University, 2005. http://ir.lib.sfu.ca/handle/1892/2086.
Full text
48
Bjurenfors, Fredrik. "För elevernas skull : Skolinspektionens kritik mot skolor som fått vitesföreläggande." Thesis, Stockholms universitet, Specialpedagogiska institutionen, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-144290.
Full textAbstract:
The Swedish compulsory education system is not seen as high quality according to the (OECD, 2015). Instead eyes are turning towards Finland and Singapore for best practice. Sweden's results are falling in international assessments such as PISA and TIMMS (Skolverket, 2016a/2016b), despite high expenditure per capita and several education reforms lately, such as a new curriculum and new teacher training education. The Swedish Schools Inspectorate scrutinizes schools with the objective to ensure a good education in a safe environment and to sustain nationwide equity. The authority therefore has a decisive role in judging the quality of schools in Sweden. The objective of this thesis is to study the criticism of Swedish Schools Inspectorate towards schools that have received a penalty for not abiding the law. The data consists of six school inspection reports seen as a case. Qualitative analysis is used building on discourse analysis theory. The findings of the research are that discipline and value-based issues are two of the areas discussed most in the criticism of the Swedish Schools Inspectorate. The inspectors also seem to look for discrepancies between documents and school staff. Different groups have the power to express themselves on various issues, such as special educators in student health. The pupils are also given a strong voice and space to define their school in the reports.
49
Makhubu, Tjetjane Samson. "The role of parent-teacher-student-associations (PTSAs) in the democratic governance of schools : future policy implications." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15992.
Full textAbstract:
Bibliography: pages 155-164.This research study attempted to gather, present and analyse information regarding the current role of the Parent-Teacher-Student-Associations in the democratic governance of secondary schools for purposes of contributing towards the education governance policy discourse as South Africa moves away from apartheid to democracy. Central to this largely fact-finding exercise was an attempt to make a contribution to an understanding of how the Parent-Teacher-Student-Associations, in the execution of their duties, practice both democracy and accountability; operate; resolve tensions and/or differences among parents, teachers and students; impact upon the schools in general; and relate to both the Department of Education and Training and other organs of civil society. Further, this survey attempted to ascertain m which crucial areas the Parent-Teacher-Student-Associations are most lacking, and how these could be strengthened. And finally, an attempt was made in this study to contribute to the possible future role of the Parent-Teacher-Student Associations in the new democratic education dispensation, and how, in the execution of this new role the Parent-Teacher-Student-Associations should relate to the new, future democratic government. The study concluded with a number of recommendations for policy in the area of democratic school governance. The study used largely a survey method. The Parent-Teacher-Student-Associations of three secondary schools under the auspices of the Department of Education and Training in the Western Cape region were surveyed. The single most important data-gathering instrument used was the interview. Numerous conclusions were arrived at. First, the Parent-Teacher-Student-Associations studied were found to be very powerful and effective in their areas of operation in school governance despite their inability to have access to resources of power, wealth and expertise. These Parent-Teacher-Student-Associations are important education policy actors who are not only influencing policy, but are in total control of very crucial policy areas in their schools. Second, the study concluded that whereas the Parent-Teacher-Student-Associations studied represent an important step towards the full democratisation of education in general, and in their schools in particular, their role in school governance could not be described as an unqualified success. However, despite the problems associated with the PTSAs involvement in school governance, their role does have the potential to make for better schools. And finally, because of the limited nature of the study in terms of the methodology, scope and time, the conclusions arrived at here cannot and should not be generalised beyond the confines of the study as no attempt was made to embark upon regional or national research exercise.
50
Mason, Philip Lawrence. "Governor experiences of the strategic development process of English Free Schools." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2299/17259.
Full textAbstract:
Free Schools entail increased involvement from civil society actors in the provision of State-funded education in England. The increased devolution of freedoms and responsibilities to these 'self-governing' schools is reflected in a significant range of strategic decisions made through the development process. These include decisions over such issues as religious character, social purpose, educational priorities and innovations in organisation. However, which factors influence the exercise of these strategic freedoms within local experiences of the strategic development processes remains unclear. Existing literature and media debate has predominantly focussed on justification for these structural reforms and their educational and social outcomes. In maintaining focus at the macroscopic level the link between policy and outcomes is assumed. Furthermore, discussion at this level may ignore important features of the provision within Free Schools at the local level. This study focusses on how the social experiences of governors provide an alternative narrative within the broader debate on structural reform. It presents empirical findings focused on the reported experiences from 21 governor interviews with those responsible for the development of three Free Schools. Analysis followed a grounded theory methodology in which theoretical sampling was influenced by a broader range of interview, survey and secondary data. Coding of the data revealed that the formation of the vision and purpose, diverse relationships, continuous reorganisation and the positioning of oneself relative to others were recurring themes in the experiences reported within and between the schools. In order to explain the diversity of experiences in relation to these themes three categories were developed, namely motivations, relating and power. Similarities and differences in motivations (including personal relationships, vested interests and subjective judgements), relations (including social groupings and experiences of specific interactions) and power (including its configuration, perpetuation and dynamism) were analysed across the participant accounts. Diverse and manifold motivations and relations emerge in complex responsive processes of relating through which tacit hierarchies, sub-group identities and individual interests emerge in the conduct of loosely defined roles. It is concluded that the freedoms to self-define expose governors to diverse social influences on development. The enduring influence of founding relationships challenges the capacity of governors to maintain the balance required of the critical friend role. Furthermore, the local reallocation of diverse value propositions in school provision does not guarantee the relevance of schools to their communities, or democratic accountability over public spending.