Dissertations / Theses: 'Government schools'

1

Hughes, D. "Teaching singing in Sydney government schools." View thesis, 2007. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/36654.

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Thesis (Ph.D) -- University of Western Sydney, 2007.
A thesis submitted to the University of Western Sydney, College of Arts, School of Communication Arts, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographical references.

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2

Gaudry, Brendan Paul. ""The efficiency and efectiveness of secondary schools in South Australia : a comparative study of government and non-government schools" /." Title page, contents and introduction only, 1986. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09EC/09ecg267.pdf.

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3

Gribble, Susan J. "Kimberley schools: a search for success." Thesis, Curtin University, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/1194.

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The purpose of this study was to identify the ways government schools in the Kimberley Education District of Western Australia attempted to engender success for their students. Schools in these communities are considered to be in poverty, they are largely populated by indigenous Australians, and situated in geographically isolated locations. It was important to establish the levels of student academic achievement and identify best school and classroom practices that centred on developing students' progress and achievement at school. The study was guided by the general research question: What are the effective ways school communities in the Kimberley work to improve student outcomes? Generating descriptions of best practices that make a geographical isolated school successful for students marginalised in the schooling process, and upon what criteria the success should be measured, were central to this research endeavour. It was critical to distinguish those dimensions of schooling in isolated areas that were malleable in improving the life chances of students. The study relied on an interpretive research methodology using both qualitative data and quantitative approaches to data collection, such as inquiry through conversations, informal and structured interviews, participant and non-participant observations, and the examination of material such as documents and students' work samples, complemented by a confirmatory survey and case studies. Participants in the study included school administration teams, teachers, students and their parents. The study was iterative and followed three distinct phases of development. In the first phase a general picture was gained about the ways in which schools in the Kimberley worked by observing four schools.The second phase involved developing and administering a study-specific questionnaire to personnel in 14 different schools in the District. This part of the study sought to confirm the interpretive aspects of phase one. In the third phase of the study, a more detailed picture of schools was drawn through a case study approach in five selected schools. Of particular importance in the case study schools was the tracking of a purposive sample of 150 students to assess their reading and writing (including spelling) progress. The results of the student assessments were analysed in terms of the progress students made and interpreted according to the amount of time students attended school. Making judgments about the success of Kimberley schools was an evaluation process in terms of how students performed. The students' performance was linked to the best practices in schools and classrooms that best supported students' learning to ascertain areas where schools could improve their operations. The study has identified challenges associated with school-home relationships, the ways schools and classrooms operate, the ways school plan and implement curriculum, how teachers develop their pedagogies, and the ways students are assessed. In response to teachers who do not fully understand these challenges, many Aboriginal children will choose to continue avoiding school or actively resist engaging in the learning process.Importantly, at the school level it was found that teachers were best supported in their work when school leaders worked to make everyone's day-to-day classroom work easier, engendered a congenial workplace environment which alleviated some of the personal stresses teachers experienced, ensured school plans went into operation in all classrooms across the school, and created a close link between the school, parents, and the community. At the classroom level in the Kimberley context, calm, stable, and orderly classroom environments are essential to establish. Consistent pedagogy is required across all classrooms within a school but a variety of activities within classrooms is important to accommodate Aboriginal styles of learning. Monitoring the continuity in students' progress as they moved from one year level to the next is imperative. The study showed that there are ways that schools can work for the betterment of students' progress at school but these ways are not universally adopted or implemented. Teachers in the Kimberley schools can learn to understand how to create a good school, how schools can be described as effective and improving, and how they can be termed schools that meet equality and quality ideals. The recommendations made from the study are intended to enable administration teams, teachers, and policy decision makers to make more informed decisions about schooling for geographically isolated students in government schools in the Kimberley region.

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4

Boyle, Maureen, and n/a. "Principals' perceptions of school based management in Australian Capital Territory government schools." University of Canberra. School of Teacher Education, 1999. http://erl.canberra.edu.au./public/adt-AUC20060609.152858.

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This thesis investigates the views of principals in government schools in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) regarding school based management (SBM). School based management is defined as the delegation of certain decision making functions from central bureaucratic control to a group of personnel located at the school site. In the case of the ACT, delegation of decision making to school sites began in 1974. An additional set of responsibilities was delegated in the 1997/98 period. This study concentrates on the latter period but also takes the extended period of devolution into account. This investigation is based on qualitative and quantitative methods of enquiry and data collection to investigate principals' perceptions of SBM, particularly in relation to the demographic variables of the schools, and selected personal and professional characteristics of the principals. Initially twenty six semi-structured interviews were conducted with principals to determine a framework of seven constructs in relation to SBM. Qualitative data are reported by drawing on the extensive unabridged transcripts of the interviews. The data arising from the interview stage formed the basis for construction of a questionnaire administered to the total population of ninety seven principals in government schools in the ACT. The questionnaire consists of demographic, personal and professional items concerning the school and the principal, items related to the impact of SBM, questions regarding the principals' perceptions of satisfaction with their work, and the importance principals place on selected aspects of their role, particularly following the extension of SBM. Results of the questionnaire are reported using frequency distribution for each of the items in the questionnaire, followed by factor analysis and analysis of variance to test significant differences in the principals' views at the 0.05 or greater level. Results of these analyses show that principals have common perceptions in general about the nature and impact of SBM. Principals' perceptions are however, mediated by a number of independent variables. These are gender of the principal, experience of more than one year's work outside the field of education, the sector of their school, ie primary, high school or college, and the geographic location of the school. Their participation in SBM training programs, bureaucratic support to assist them in implementing SBM, and their expressed need for continued professional development are additional independent variables where statistically significant differences are apparent. Principals in this study view the extension of SBM responsibilities more as an administrative function, than an opportunity to engage in restructuring the school. They see that their role has expanded to place strong emphasis on business management and they consider that they are now working in a market oriented climate where competition for students is a real issue. Hours of work have increased, and maintenance of a balance between work and personal life is a growing concern. Despite this they do not want to return to the former arrangements and continue to express satisfaction with the intrinsic rewards of their profession such as contact with students, colleagues and the community. These results provide important insights into the type of SBM evident in ACT government schools at the time of this study. A number of recommendations for future research and practice are presented related to the findings and linked to the key themes arising in the literature.These suggest ways that SBM can and might be used as a catalyst for development of a new paradigm for education, which will meet the needs of a 'knowledge society' (Drucker, 1995) and engage schools in moving 'beyond the self managing school', (Caldwell and Spinks, 1998).

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5

Yates, Jennifer M., and n/a. "Teachers' perceptions of the work of school counsellors in ACT government schools." University of Canberra. Education, 1995. http://erl.canberra.edu.au./public/adt-AUC20061112.104819.

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This study examines teachers' perceptions of the work of School Counsellors within government schools in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Data were drawn from questionnaires returned by a representative sample of 279 teachers and principals, from 16 primary and 8 high schools. The purpose of the study was to: (i) partially replicate a study by Leach (1989) of Western Australian teachers' perceptions; and (ii) investigate whether or not teachers could be considered to be supportive of a general trend towards a broadening role for school psychologists which is evident in the literature. This trend suggests that practitioners of applied psychology in schools may prefer an expanded role which encompasses indirect service delivery in addition to the more traditional, child centred role. Respondents were asked to indicate their perceptions of the frequency of 65 tasks performed by School Counsellors, the competence with which those tasks were performed and the usefulness of those tasks. Also examined were perceptions of the process and quality of service delivery, and of actual and preferred qualifications and experience of School Counsellors. These results were compared with those of Leach (1989). Respondents were invited to prioritise service delivery in light of their professional needs. A factor analysis of respondents' perceptions of School Counsellors was undertaken. The results were similar to Leach's (1989) findings and indicated a general endorsement of the current work of School Counsellors, with traditional, direct service delivery tasks generally perceived as being performed more frequently and with more competence than the more innovative, indirect types of service delivery. There was a strong indication that respondents would like more of both types of service delivery, particularly indirect services, made possible through increased resourcing. Increases in respondents' classification level positively correlated with increased perceptions of task frequency and competence with which tasks were performed. A positive correlation was also found between the frequency of professional contact that respondents perceived they had with School Counsellors and their perceptions of the process and quality of service delivered by these practitioners. In relation to the process and quality of service delivery, few teachers perceived that School Counsellors communicated clearly about the services they offer, procedures used or results gained. This concern with communication was reinforced through examination of the factors underlying teachers' perceptions of both the frequency and usefulness of tasks. This study suggests that ACT teachers and principals are, to some extent, already experiencing and valuing some aspects of the trend in service delivery reflected in the literature. Discussion highlights the important role communication plays in indirect service delivery, and links it with the findings of this study, particularly as it relates to teachers' and administrators' apparent lack of knowledge of the qualifications and experience of School Counsellors.

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6

Lau, Hon-wah, and 劉漢華. "Factors that motivate teachers in government secondary schools." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1992. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31956105.

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7

Lau, Hon-wah. "Factors that motivate teachers in government secondary schools." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1992. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B13890979.

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8

Mnakaniso, Mlamli Hendrick. "An investigation into the nature of relationships among SGB components: A case study of a rural school in Libode Mega District in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa." Thesis, Walter Sisulu University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/11260/d1009471.

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The government established school Governing Bodies through the South African Schools ACTS NO 84 OF 1996. The aim of this Act was to inter alia ensure greater parental involvement in school management. The good relationship between the school and the community at large is important for the growth and development of a child. It was for that reason that the national department of education introduced a three legged body called SGB, which is composed of Parents, Teachers and Learners to govern the schools. In this study the researcher investigated the nature of relationship among the SGB components in rural schools. A case study was conducted at rural senior secondary school in the Libode Mega District‟. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among SGB components that are parents, teachers and learners in research school. This study would help in creating an understanding of the importance of good relationship among SGB components. The one broad research question was: What is the nature of relationships among the SGB components (parents, learners, and teachers) of the research school towards attainment of school goals? This was a case study using interviews, documents such as SGB minutes, notices of SGB meetings as an instrument for research. The sample represented all parents, learners and teachers who were SGB members in the research school. For purposes of validation the questionnaire was piloted to different schools with a similar situation to the research school. The data gathered were analysed qualitatively and findings and recommendations formed the most vital component of the dissertation. Findings were as follows: The SGB of the research school knew about their roles and responsibilities. SGB meetings were Organized and run properly. There were good Relationships among SGB components. Management of school finances was good and transparent. There were standing meetings for reporting to constituency.

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9

Gribble, Susan J. "Kimberley schools: a search for success." Curtin University of Technology, Science and Mathematics Education Centre, 2002. http://espace.library.curtin.edu.au:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=13529.

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The purpose of this study was to identify the ways government schools in the Kimberley Education District of Western Australia attempted to engender success for their students. Schools in these communities are considered to be in poverty, they are largely populated by indigenous Australians, and situated in geographically isolated locations. It was important to establish the levels of student academic achievement and identify best school and classroom practices that centred on developing students' progress and achievement at school. The study was guided by the general research question: What are the effective ways school communities in the Kimberley work to improve student outcomes? Generating descriptions of best practices that make a geographical isolated school successful for students marginalised in the schooling process, and upon what criteria the success should be measured, were central to this research endeavour. It was critical to distinguish those dimensions of schooling in isolated areas that were malleable in improving the life chances of students. The study relied on an interpretive research methodology using both qualitative data and quantitative approaches to data collection, such as inquiry through conversations, informal and structured interviews, participant and non-participant observations, and the examination of material such as documents and students' work samples, complemented by a confirmatory survey and case studies. Participants in the study included school administration teams, teachers, students and their parents. The study was iterative and followed three distinct phases of development. In the first phase a general picture was gained about the ways in which schools in the Kimberley worked by observing four schools.
The second phase involved developing and administering a study-specific questionnaire to personnel in 14 different schools in the District. This part of the study sought to confirm the interpretive aspects of phase one. In the third phase of the study, a more detailed picture of schools was drawn through a case study approach in five selected schools. Of particular importance in the case study schools was the tracking of a purposive sample of 150 students to assess their reading and writing (including spelling) progress. The results of the student assessments were analysed in terms of the progress students made and interpreted according to the amount of time students attended school. Making judgments about the success of Kimberley schools was an evaluation process in terms of how students performed. The students' performance was linked to the best practices in schools and classrooms that best supported students' learning to ascertain areas where schools could improve their operations. The study has identified challenges associated with school-home relationships, the ways schools and classrooms operate, the ways school plan and implement curriculum, how teachers develop their pedagogies, and the ways students are assessed. In response to teachers who do not fully understand these challenges, many Aboriginal children will choose to continue avoiding school or actively resist engaging in the learning process.
Importantly, at the school level it was found that teachers were best supported in their work when school leaders worked to make everyone's day-to-day classroom work easier, engendered a congenial workplace environment which alleviated some of the personal stresses teachers experienced, ensured school plans went into operation in all classrooms across the school, and created a close link between the school, parents, and the community. At the classroom level in the Kimberley context, calm, stable, and orderly classroom environments are essential to establish. Consistent pedagogy is required across all classrooms within a school but a variety of activities within classrooms is important to accommodate Aboriginal styles of learning. Monitoring the continuity in students' progress as they moved from one year level to the next is imperative. The study showed that there are ways that schools can work for the betterment of students' progress at school but these ways are not universally adopted or implemented. Teachers in the Kimberley schools can learn to understand how to create a good school, how schools can be described as effective and improving, and how they can be termed schools that meet equality and quality ideals. The recommendations made from the study are intended to enable administration teams, teachers, and policy decision makers to make more informed decisions about schooling for geographically isolated students in government schools in the Kimberley region.

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10

Arzu, Hernandez Ethel Mae. "The Leadership Roles of Secondary Schools Department Heads at Two Government Schools in Belize." UNF Digital Commons, 2013. http://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/468.

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This study examined the leadership roles of secondary schools department heads at two government schools in Belize. Seven participants participated in the study and data regarding their perceptions of their leadership roles were collected through open-ended semi-structured interviews. Relevant sections from Belizean education documents were purposefully selected based on their relevance to the study. Documents were used to enrich the interview data. Three data analysis strategies—content analysis (Patton, 2002), inductive analysis (Hatch, 2002), and educational criticism (Eisner, 1998)—were used in the study. Discussion of the analysis was based on the following three themes: (a) build instructional capacity, (b) increase learning opportunities for students, and (c) provide technical and vocational teachers access to professional training and development in technical and vocational education. The themes are perspectives from which to view and understand the leadership roles of secondary school department heads at two government schools in Belize. Three major conclusions resulted from this study. One, secondary school department heads at the two government schools in Belize are school leaders whose multifaceted role includes myriad duties, responsibilities, and obligations. Two, department heads are street-level bureaucrats who implement and enforce policies and regulations through their classroom routines and the decisions they make. Three, policymakers, school management, and department heads need to invest in sustained professional training and development activities that are specifically designed for department heads. Implications for policy and practice include the need to establish minimum professional selection criteria for the role of department heads, expand the capacity of teacher training institutions, and foster a culture that supports and nurtures shared instructional leadership and learning among department heads.

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11

O, Sui-fong, and 柯瑞芳. "School based management: a way to improve teacher performance in Hong Kong Government schools." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2004. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B3028823x.

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12

Mazza, Rose, and n/a. "Multicultural education and A.C.T. government high schools : an investigative study." University of Canberra. Education, 1987. http://erl.canberra.edu.au./public/adt-AUC20060907.142249.

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13

Rizvi, Meher. "The relationships between school reforms and teacher professionalism in government primary schools in Karachi, Pakistan." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2004. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/15955/1/Meher_Rizvi_Thesis.pdf.

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The government primary education system in Karachi, Pakistan, is faced with many problems and dilemmas and each dilemma justifies a reason, but perhaps no problem is as grave as the dejected professional status of the government primary school teachers in Karachi. Schools are only as good as their teachers, regardless of how high their standards, how up-to-date their technology, or how innovative their programs. With a large numbers of under-educated, under-trained, under-paid and, most importantly of all, undervalued government primary school teachers in Karachi, Pakistan (Hoodbhoy, 1998; Shaikh, 1997), only a low percentage of teachers can be effective. Whether the children in Pakistan will be the enlightened and the informed citizens of tomorrow or ignorant members of society will depend on teacher knowledge, teacher education and above all teacher professionalism. If teachers do matter the most, then a series of questions result. What is being done for this section of the society that matters so much? Are efforts being taken to find out what teachers in the government primary schools need to achieve their professional goals? Are these teachers given adequate opportunities to learn, to improve and to become effective teachers? How can these teachers meet the ever increasing demands placed upon them? How will these teachers successfully lead the students into the twenty-first century? Do the primary government school teachers believe that they can successfully lead children into the twenty-first century? Are school reforms geared towards enhancing teachers' professionalism? This research that focuses on the relationships between school reforms and teacher professionalism in government primary schools in Karachi, Pakistan, addresses such questions. In this thesis, I outline some of the measures that have been taken at the government, at the non-government and at the school sector level to restructure and reform primary government schools in Pakistan. A mixed methods research approach was undertaken to investigate the relationships between these reforms and teacher professionalism. Quantitative data were collected by means of questionnaire surveys and qualitative data were collected in the selected four case sites by means of interviews and field notes. In this research it was important to investigate teacher efficacy, teacher practice, teacher leadership and collaborative efforts as the different dimensions of professionalism and the relationships between these and the school reforms for enhanced teacher professionalism. Research was required which addressed the question of "What it actually means to be a professional teacher in government primary schools in Karachi, Pakistan, and how school reforms can actually develop teacher learning for improved teacher professionalism?" Contrary to the detached and noncommittal attitude with which the government primary school teachers are characterized in many contexts, the teachers in this study have indicated that they are confident and capable; they can articulate and communicate ideas; they can make decisions and undertake responsibilities; they understand that it is important to collaborate and learn from one another; and they are willing to undertake leadership roles if they have the opportunities. This has strong implications for policy makers to provide teachers with the opportunities to become active and reflective professionals. It is important to regard teachers as change agents capable of generating knowledge and of making change happen, rather than as passive recipients and users of knowledge. The data provided by the teachers have indicated that it is possible to enhance teacher professionalism within the existing government primary school structures. While the different teachers were at different levels or stages of professionalism, it was quite clear that they had all advanced in terms of their professionalism as a consequence of reform initiatives. These changes in the teachers' levels of professionalism defined the relationships between the school reforms and teacher professionalism. In other words, the school reforms have been able to develop teacher professionalism and take it to a higher level than where it was when the reforms were initiated in the schools. Based on the analysis of the findings, this research theorizes that teacher professionalism is developed when teachers are provided with both the professional knowledge and skills to improve their capabilities, and opportunities to translate professional knowledge and skills into classroom and school activities to make the most of their capabilities. The research proposes that the strength of these relationships between school reforms and teacher professionalism depends on the dynamism with which the reform managers take teachers through the stage of involving them in developmental process, the stage of initiating professional development programmes and the stage of developing schools into collaborative cultures and establishing networks with the help of enlightened principals and hybrid support structures. Based on this proposition a number of principles have been identified for sustaining and further developing teacher professionalism. The study acknowledges that the process of developing teacher professionalism is complex and that it will be the blend of different elements in the schools, the particular school context and political will that will decide how professionalism can best be fostered in the government primary schools. However, since the principles derived from this research are based on grounded research findings and are also supported by literature and other relevant research in the area of teacher development, they may be applicable to other primary schools where similar reforms are being implemented in Pakistan and other developing countries seeking to address similar problems. Policy makers and large private organizations may benefit from the principles of developing and fostering teacher professionalism.

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14

Rizvi, Meher. "The relationships between school reforms and teacher professionalism in government primary schools in Karachi, Pakistan." Queensland University of Technology, 2004. http://eprints.qut.edu.au/15955/.

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Abstract:

The government primary education system in Karachi, Pakistan, is faced with many problems and dilemmas and each dilemma justifies a reason, but perhaps no problem is as grave as the dejected professional status of the government primary school teachers in Karachi. Schools are only as good as their teachers, regardless of how high their standards, how up-to-date their technology, or how innovative their programs. With a large numbers of under-educated, under-trained, under-paid and, most importantly of all, undervalued government primary school teachers in Karachi, Pakistan (Hoodbhoy, 1998; Shaikh, 1997), only a low percentage of teachers can be effective. Whether the children in Pakistan will be the enlightened and the informed citizens of tomorrow or ignorant members of society will depend on teacher knowledge, teacher education and above all teacher professionalism. If teachers do matter the most, then a series of questions result. What is being done for this section of the society that matters so much? Are efforts being taken to find out what teachers in the government primary schools need to achieve their professional goals? Are these teachers given adequate opportunities to learn, to improve and to become effective teachers? How can these teachers meet the ever increasing demands placed upon them? How will these teachers successfully lead the students into the twenty-first century? Do the primary government school teachers believe that they can successfully lead children into the twenty-first century? Are school reforms geared towards enhancing teachers' professionalism? This research that focuses on the relationships between school reforms and teacher professionalism in government primary schools in Karachi, Pakistan, addresses such questions. In this thesis, I outline some of the measures that have been taken at the government, at the non-government and at the school sector level to restructure and reform primary government schools in Pakistan. A mixed methods research approach was undertaken to investigate the relationships between these reforms and teacher professionalism. Quantitative data were collected by means of questionnaire surveys and qualitative data were collected in the selected four case sites by means of interviews and field notes. In this research it was important to investigate teacher efficacy, teacher practice, teacher leadership and collaborative efforts as the different dimensions of professionalism and the relationships between these and the school reforms for enhanced teacher professionalism. Research was required which addressed the question of "What it actually means to be a professional teacher in government primary schools in Karachi, Pakistan, and how school reforms can actually develop teacher learning for improved teacher professionalism?" Contrary to the detached and noncommittal attitude with which the government primary school teachers are characterized in many contexts, the teachers in this study have indicated that they are confident and capable; they can articulate and communicate ideas; they can make decisions and undertake responsibilities; they understand that it is important to collaborate and learn from one another; and they are willing to undertake leadership roles if they have the opportunities. This has strong implications for policy makers to provide teachers with the opportunities to become active and reflective professionals. It is important to regard teachers as change agents capable of generating knowledge and of making change happen, rather than as passive recipients and users of knowledge. The data provided by the teachers have indicated that it is possible to enhance teacher professionalism within the existing government primary school structures. While the different teachers were at different levels or stages of professionalism, it was quite clear that they had all advanced in terms of their professionalism as a consequence of reform initiatives. These changes in the teachers' levels of professionalism defined the relationships between the school reforms and teacher professionalism. In other words, the school reforms have been able to develop teacher professionalism and take it to a higher level than where it was when the reforms were initiated in the schools. Based on the analysis of the findings, this research theorizes that teacher professionalism is developed when teachers are provided with both the professional knowledge and skills to improve their capabilities, and opportunities to translate professional knowledge and skills into classroom and school activities to make the most of their capabilities. The research proposes that the strength of these relationships between school reforms and teacher professionalism depends on the dynamism with which the reform managers take teachers through the stage of involving them in developmental process, the stage of initiating professional development programmes and the stage of developing schools into collaborative cultures and establishing networks with the help of enlightened principals and hybrid support structures. Based on this proposition a number of principles have been identified for sustaining and further developing teacher professionalism. The study acknowledges that the process of developing teacher professionalism is complex and that it will be the blend of different elements in the schools, the particular school context and political will that will decide how professionalism can best be fostered in the government primary schools. However, since the principles derived from this research are based on grounded research findings and are also supported by literature and other relevant research in the area of teacher development, they may be applicable to other primary schools where similar reforms are being implemented in Pakistan and other developing countries seeking to address similar problems. Policy makers and large private organizations may benefit from the principles of developing and fostering teacher professionalism.

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15

Nelipa, Tanya, and n/a. "The changing role of the A.C.T. government school principal : an investigation of administrators' perceptions." University of Canberra. Education, 1993. http://erl.canberra.edu.au./public/adt-AUC20060824.095312.

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This study researched three major areas of the school Principalship within the Australian Capital Territory government school system. The three major areas of research concern related to school Principalship were: 1. Changes in the role and responsibilities of the Principal 2. Skills Principals require to perform effectively within the role and responsibility. 3. How the education department may best facilitate and support effective performance of its Principals. An outline of the history of administrative and organisational restructuring within the A.C.T. government education system during the past two decades has been presented to provide the context of the study. A review of the literature also contributed to the contextual understanding of the study by examining specific issues and understandings within the literature. The specific issues and understandings related to: context and the role of the Principal concept of the role of the Principal instructional leadership and the role of the Principal administrative and organisational devolution and the role of the Principal The research methodology used to examine the issues central to this study is qualitative or descriptive in nature, reflecting a phenomenological perspective. The data was collected through personal interviews conducted with senior administrators of the A.C.T. government school system and written questionnaires completed by Principals of the A.C.T. government school system. The data comprises the perceptions, ideas and beliefs of the two defined groups targeted in the study. The analysis of responses presented the major findings regarding the perceptions, ideas and beliefs of the Principals and senior administrators of the A.C.T. government school system relating to the key research areas of this study. The major findings show that the role of the school Principal has changed, with Principals requiring a broader array of skills to effectively meet the challenges of the new role. The major findings discuss how the education department may best facilitate and support effective performance in the Principalship. The conclusions of the study discuss how changes to the role of the Principal have increased the Principal's workload, with Principals now required to utilise a broader scope of often new skills to effectively perform their changed role and responsibilities. The Principal respondents and senior administrator respondents suggest best ways that the education department may facilitate and support effective performance of the Principalship. It was also suggested that the amount of professional development and training was inadequate to facilitate the performance of effective Principalship. Respondents indicated that incentives such as sabbatical leave for Principals be facilitated by the education department to ensure Principals' professional renewal. Finally, the implications of the conclusions of the study address the ways in which the education department may best assist Principals to acquire the necessary new skills to effectively perform their changed role. The implications of the conclusions of the study also address the ways in which the education department may best facilitate and support Principals' professional renewal. The implications of the conclusions of the study state that the responsibility for Principals' professional development and renewal should be a shared responsibility between the school Principal and the education department.

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16

Mili. "Conceptions of teachers' knowledge : contested perspectives from government schools in India." Thesis, King's College London (University of London), 2014. http://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/conceptions-of-teachers-knowledge-contested-perspectives-from-government-schools-in-india(d4cf13e8-6315-4ac3-a947-93351b8169d2).html.

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Conceptions of what teachers need to know have a bearing on classroom practice, governance and policy. In India, the question of what teachers need to know at elementary school level plays an important but largely implicit role in efforts to improve educational quality and professionalise school teaching. This study examines the conceptions of teachers' knowledge as uderstood and used by teachers to teach geography, and as articulated in teachers' occupational context in government schools. Focusing on subject knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge, the thesis examines how these conceptions relate to the notion of teaching as an activity, within the distinctions of craft, technique and profession. Adopting a qualitative approach and employing ethnographic techniques over eight months of fieldwork in four government schools, I observed the classroom teaching of six teachers and held interviews with them to understand the meaning and conceptions they hold regarding subject knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge. To situate teachers' conceptions within their occupational context, I also undertook participant observation, studied trainings and teacher meetings, and interviewed educational officials at different levels of the education system (local, district and regional state). The findings suggest that conceptions of teachers' knowledge are generally circumscribed and limited to knowledge of the textbook they are supposed to teach. Teachers' own perspectives and practices differ depending on whether pr not they have a qualification (graduate and above) in the subject they teach- a difference that is ignored in recruitment and deployment policies, due to which most teachers teach subjects they have only studied up to grade X. Teachers. education officials, and policy documents do not generally recognise a space or need for subject-specific forms of pedagogical knowledge in grades VI, VII and VIII. The emphasis lies on teaching techniques that ostensibly originate from child pedagogy.

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17

Imoni, Raphael Isibor. "Leadership distribution in government secondary schools in Nigeria : fact or fiction?" Thesis, University of Nottingham, 2018. http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/51759/.

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There are established notions about the importance of distributed leadership in school leadership practice. Theory and research on this currently popular leadership model mostly emanate from western contexts, notably Australia, UK and the USA. It has been portrayed as an emergent model, with professionals choosing to initiate leadership in schools and classrooms. It is closely linked to teacher leadership, because distribution invariably involves teachers. This thesis focuses on leadership practice in selected secondary schools in Nigeria, from a distributed perspective. It is based on research in Edo state, using a multiple case study design. Nigeria has a centralised education system and schools tend to have a typical hierarchical structure. This raises the question about whether and how distributed leadership can operate in such a hierarchical context. The findings show that distribution occurs in the four case study schools but that it is largely allocative, rather than emergent, with school principals allocating tasks and, to a lesser extent, roles, to teachers and leaders. The case studies indicate that hierarchical distribution of school leadership can be accomplished through such allocative distributed leadership, with distribution occurring to those who occupy both formal and informal leadership roles. The research raises questions about the differences between this mode of distribution and established notions of delegation and explores this distinction. The thesis examines a globally significant leadership model and applies it to the under-published context of Nigerian secondary schools. The research is likely to be relevant to other centralised systems considering whether and how to adapt their leadership and management practice.

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Wu, Ven Yuen Francis. "Teacher leaders in Singapore : a study of two government managed schools." Thesis, University of Leicester, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/548.

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The concept of teacher leadership is based on the premise that those able to exert the most influence on educational changes and most likely to sustain such changes are teachers from and within the school. They can raise the quality of instruction, enhance both teacher development and student learning, and transform teaching from an occupation to a profession. This study conducted in two government managed schools in Singapore sought to identify the informal teacher leaders and delved into their work and impact on their school. A survey to identify these teacher leaders was developed based on generally accepted characteristics of informal teacher leaders. Once identified, a self completed questionnaire was used to gather demographic information and in-depth interviews were conducted. The study reveals that while informal teacher leaders exist in Singapore schools and share many similarities with their counterparts in other parts of the world, there are differences attributable mainly to the local educational system and its culture. Where teacher leaders are nurtured, they can contribute to the development of a parallel leadership and a better understanding of school leadership in the real context. This parallel leadership holds implications for the central educational authority and the school administrators in their leadership planning and development and ultimately the realisation of a better educational system for the students.

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Hurairah, Huraini. "Inclusive education and educational diversity : a study of Brunei Government schools." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2009. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:ec1708ed-70d3-4160-a993-b266658dd9aa.

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Inclusive education is increasingly being accepted worldwide as the most appropriate means for the education of all children, including those with disabilities. The principle of inclusive education is based on the philosophy that mainstream educational provision should include all children and respond to individual needs. This, however, has profound implications for educators, education planners, and crucially teachers, as they are expected to be able to respond to increasingly diverse classrooms and schools. This research will examine how the Brunei Education system is attempting to respond to pupil diversity in terms of learning needs, by examining the views of policy makers, head teachers and teachers. This study focuses on the factors which have influenced the development of inclusion in Brunei, the different conceptualisations of needs, the practices which have been adopted and the views of those who are involved in shaping the Brunei education system’s attempt to respond to diverse learning needs in the mainstream education system. Data were generated through interviews, questionnaires, observations and analysis of official policies and documents. The research involved 14 Brunei Government Primary Education schools. The findings of the study indicated that responding to the needs of all children in the mainstream school is a complex challenge. There are several factors which have constrained the development of inclusion in Brunei, some of which are related to how the Brunei education system is structured and the constraints which operate at different levels within the education system. The findings suggest that inclusive education in Brunei is regarded as the integration of children with special educational needs into the mainstream education system and there is little consideration of how to respond to individual needs. There remains a high level of confusion and concern amongst stakeholders in the Ministry in this move to make the Brunei education system more inclusive.

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Gray, Valerie Joyce. "Teaching and learning with ICT in Western Australian government primary schools." Thesis, Curtin University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/1960.

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Have you ever wondered how far educators have come in response to the political push for improvements in teaching and learning with ICT? As a society, we have a responsibility to prepare young people to make a strong contribution to our future. This is characterised by rapid technological change in global communications and interactions. Since the early 1980s, governments around the world have committed vast resources to the provision of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in schools. This means that schools have been implementing the introduction of ICT for nearly thirty years!This research examines how successful Western Australian primary schools and their teachers have been in implementing the use of ICT in teaching and learning. The research has been informed by a previous study that took place nearly ten years ago and resulted in the Pearson report (2001) and later the DET Teacher ICT skills survey (2005). The current research examined the role that leadership, teacher attitudes and professional learning played in ICT implementation. The study utilised a mixed methods approach to data gathering which included participant observations as well as auto-ethnographic methods.The key outcomes of this research indicate that teacher proficiency and skills in utilising ICT in teaching have not significantly improved over time in the sample schools used in this study. This is despite successive Western Australian governments making substantial investment into new technologies, high-speed broadband and professional learning opportunities for teachers and schools.The study concludes that for the successful integration of ICT into teaching and learning teachers and administrators must have time to develop and reflect on technology based pedagogy, as well as time and opportunities to engage in continuous, meaningful professional learning that not only considers the technical aspects but also new pedagogy and best practice to better meet the needs of their children. This can only be done if administrators and teachers change their attitudes and beliefs about how technology can enhance their teaching and learning. In addition, they must rethink the philosophical and pedagogical assumptions of education by making better use of the technologies that already exist in their schools by changing what we do in the classroom.

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Agbomeji, Ayinda Mojeed Oladele. "An investigation into factors that shape secondary school female retention in two rural public schools, Alimosho Region, Lagos State, Nigeria." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004331.

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Challenges of access to education in the developing world and elsewhere appear to be widespread. Many declarations and conventions have been developed to assist countries to respond to the issue. While challenges of access are universal, Africa in general and sub-Saharan Africa in particular are presented with additional concerns about gender equality and gender parity. While learner numbers seem to be on the decline globally, dropout amongst girls is disproportionately greater than amongst boys. Even though school retention presents a challenge at all levels of the schooling system, it is more acute for girls at the secondary school level. This study was conducted to examine and understand factors that shape retention of secondary school female learners in two rural public schools in Alimosho Region of Lagos State, Nigeria. The study design was qualitative and interpretive in nature. Data collection strategies included administered questionnaires in two schools, focus group discussion with twenty female learners in two schools, case studies, individual interviews with four participants from two schools, and observation in English and Biology classes where the two teachers from the two schools participated in the interviews. Ethical clearance from Alimosho Educational Region office and the two schools was obtained before undertaking the study. Participants’ school principals also signed written consent forms before interviews. The female learners were briefed about the study interview activities and advised that their participation was voluntary and that they were free to withdraw at any point. This study drew on Sen’s (1989, 2000) capabilities theory to understand the phenomenon beyond dominant discourses on education that view education as a basic human right or that focus on economic and development gains. The key finding of this study is that in-school and out- of- school factors interact in complex ways to support female learner retention. Key among these are value placed on education by female learners and significant others, particularly parents; family support; and individual aspirations. Extra-curricular participation, government policy, role models, and peer support were also found to be important factors that mediate progression and retention.

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Liu, Pak-lin. "An evaluative study of the performance appraisal system in government secondary schools." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1996. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B17596671.

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Moyle, Kathryn, and Kathryn Moyle@canberra edu au. "Digital technologies in Australian public schools : a narrative study of government policies." Swinburne University of Technology, 2002. http://adt.lib.swin.edu.au./public/adt-VSWT20060721.132427.

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Policies advocating the use of digital technologies in government schools are promoted by all public school education systems in Australia. This is reflected in the release of political media statements, policies, plans, budgets, digital networking rollouts, curriculum developments, and professional development activities. Resources are being directed towards such initiatives from within school education budgets and from departmental and 'whole of government' initiatives, at state, territory and federal levels. While there is considerable activity being supported by governments, outside of these activities academic publications specifically about these school level initiatives are limited. This research sets out to answer the question: 'what does public schooling mean in Australia in the 21st century given its past tradition of free, compulsory and secular schooling, and given the present policies that are urging the ubiquitous use of digital technologies?' The purpose of this research is to interpret, understand and explain the policies of the public schooling systems in Australia advocating the use of digital technologies. In doing so, this thesis aims to contribute to the development of a stock of Australian research specifically in the schooling sector, about the use of digital technologies in schools. Further, this thesis aims to stimulate and add to the conversations concerning these policies. It is argued that the use of digital technologies in schooling has the capacity to redefine what has previously been understood by 'public schooling'. This thesis is the outcome of an interpretative social inquiry where narrative theory and hegemony have provided its theoretical bases. This thesis has not set out to merge these theories nor has it attempted to reconcile the internal differences within them, but rather, to draw from them, and to use approaches that are pertinent to this study. While such an approach may be contentious and bring some inherent difficulties, the intention of the research has been to draw upon the abstract understandings afforded by these theories and apply them to concrete, particular, yet newly emerging educational activities. This is to provide interpretative and explanatory perspectives to the advocated use of digital technologies in Australian schools and systems, and, in Chapter Six, to forward a proposition for future action. There are several different ways in which this thesis could have been approached and finally could have been structured. Likewise, there are many avenues that require research but have been left without investigation due to limitations of size, space and time. This is not to negate their importance, but rather it is to recognise the limits of this project and to highlight the necessity for more research to be undertaken. Throughout the thesis distance education has been considered in conjunction with the policies directly impinging upon 'face to face' schooling. It is argued that with the advocated use of digital technologies as an inherent part of public schooling, there is emerging, a convergence in these two styles of schooling. Further it is argued that experiences from school level distance education practitioners have the potential to offer some insights that may be useful for those in 'face to face' schools using digital technologies. It is intended then, that the implications from this research will have the capacity to influence how we view centrally developed school education policies, curriculum leadership and management as well as what is intended to happen in the classroom. The thesis has been arranged into three parts. The first three chapters comprise Part One. Chapter One identifies the research space for the thesis. This is achieved by describing the fields of research from which this thesis draws, and introduces the theoretical bases used in the research space identified for this thesis. Chapter Two provides the theoretical bases for the thesis in more detail. In doing so, positivist approaches to the research are rejected. Chapter Three describes the research methods used to interpret,understand and explain the public schooling sectors' digital technologies policies. Together, these three chapters provide an outline of the nature of the research undertaking, and the theories and methods used. Part Two also has three chapters. These are structured around the temporal concept important to narrative theory; that of the past, the present and the future. Chapter Four looks to the past and provides an account of the history and three traditions, it is argued, impinge upon this research project. In particular, this chapter discusses what was intended by the phrase 'public education' in Australia during the 19th and 20th centuries. This chapter establishes the context for the interpretations of the policies that follow. Chapter Five seeks to understand and explain the policy narratives of the present, defined as the research period between 1997 and 2001. This period of time is thought of as sitting temporally between the past history and traditions outlined in Chapter Four and the possible scenarios for the future, proposed in Chapter Six. Part Three brings the thesis to its conclusion by reflecting on the central question identified for this thesis: 'what does public schooling mean in Australia in the 21st century, given its past tradition of free, compulsory and secular schooling, and given the present policies that are urging the ubiquitous use of digital technologies?'

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Liu, Pak-lin, and 廖柏年. "An evaluative study of the performance appraisal system in government secondary schools." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1996. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31959027.

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Knight, Raymond. "The interplay of formal and informal rule systems in government primary schools." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1996. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/951.

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The aim of this dissertation is to examine the effects of regulation upon the practice and behaviour of teachers within a bureaucratic educational organisation. More specifically, the study had been designed to understand how teachers make sense of the rules and regulations of their organisation and identify strategies that they apply to make these rules serve these interests. The rule system theory of Swedish sociologist, Burns and Flam, was employed to inform the study. Thirty teachers, employed at two school sites, were included in this qualitative study. The initial data were collected by questionnaires and a survey of formal rules. From this initial population a stratified sample of fourteen people was selected for interview. Eight subjects were interviewed a second time. The data collected by these means was coded according to its correspondence to the research questions raised for the study. The most significant finding arising from this study was that teachers' knowledge and level of consciousness of the rules and regulations were minimal. Information that they did have was gained through immersion in their workplace and contained a great deal of informal or cultural lore, based upon approximations of the actual regulations The teachers tended to rely on the principal of the school for information about what was permissible and what was not, including role reference direction. All of the teachers interviewed reported that they had an obligation to work within the rules and regulations, even though, as indicated above, they were not aware of the specifics of the formal rule system. A second significant finding related to the responses of the school administrators. Unlike the teachers, their knowledge of the rules was comprehensive but they reported that they often ‘interpreted' the regulation seeking the 'spirit rather than the 'letter' of the rule. They all reported that they believed the rules to be out-dated and, in many cases, irrelevant. Some of the administrators interviewed reported negative attitudes towards the regulations, bordering on contempt in one case the principals reported that they disregarded many of the rules when they felt impeded by them. The only exceptions were rules that carried negative sanctions for non-compliance. Therefore, much of the school level regulation was based on approximations of the official rules and regulations developed by the principal, who assured compliance amongst their staff. It is clear from this study that descriptions of schools as rule governed institutions are oversimplifications of how the formal and informal rule systems, as suggested by Burns and Flam, serve to steer bureaucratic organisations. Senior administrators use the formal rules to establish and bolster their power and authority; at the same time they use considerable discretion in applying or ignoring official rules in order to accomplish what they determine is in the interests of the school.

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Cheng, Mei-ching, and 鄭美菁. "The policy of practical schools in Hong Kong." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2012. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B50605756.

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This study explores the nature of the policy gap – the discrepancy between intended and actual policy outcomes – resulting from the implementation of Practical School (PS) policy in four Hong Kong Practical Schools during the 1990s. The study closely examines the complexity of the policy formulation and implementation processes, and finds that a number of factors at different policy levels served to divert PS implementation from its intended outcome. These factors can be grouped into two main categories – those that were specific to individual policy levels (e.g., policy orientation at the Education Department (ED) level, institutional autonomy at the School Sponsoring Body (SSB) level, or principal leadership at the (school) level, and those relating to the interdependent relationships existing between and among the various levels. The factors in these categories interacted to shape and modify PS policy implementation, making the policy-practice relationship complex and unpredictable. Thus, this study suggests that policy gap can be seen as the outcome of the multilevel, intertwined interplay among policy implementation actors from various policy levels. This study also proposes that the observed policy gap was not necessarily undesirable; in fact, the modification of original implementation plans prevented, in some instances, overall policy failure. In the case of PS, modified policy implementation allowed all four Practical Schools to achieve certain policy goals, despite failing to achieve others. This study has found that whether a policy gap was perceived as desirable depended on how the modified implementation affected the interests of the various parties; thus, any given policy gap could be called undesirable, desirable, or both, depending on which party were asked. Finally, this study is particularly concerned with the views of policymakers, senior SSB administrators and principals, and their actions in response to policy demands. The study argues that policy gap varied depending on policymakers’ perceptions of the policy, the organizational characteristics of SSBs, and the contextual nature of the schools. In other words, whether implementation realized intended policy outcomes depended on how implementing actors interacted to steer policy either towards or away from its original course.
published_or_final_version
Education
Doctoral
Doctor of Philosophy

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Williamson, Janet, and n/a. "Teachers and the use of computers in four ACT non-government primary schools." University of Canberra. Education, 1994. http://erl.canberra.edu.au./public/adt-AUC20050816.150827.

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The case studies carried out in four non-government primary schools in the ACT aimed to look at the way teachers were using computers in classrooms in order to shed light on the factors which may determine how teachers chose to use computers to enhance learning. The case study method allowed the researcher to use triangulation to provide in-depth information about the processes involved in the delivery of a lesson using a computer. The findings were positive in that more than half of the teachers were found to be using computers at a high level of adoption, predominantly running simulation programs. In most schools, this was in spite of either hardware or software constraints, inadequate professional development opportunities or administrative obstacles. Whether the teachers taught in a laboratory or had one computer in the classroom did not seem to retard their enthusiasm for finding the best strategies to effectively integrate computer use. Cooperative learning strategies had been adopted by most of the teachers so their transition to computer use was made easier since their students had already been 'routinised'.The data also pointed to formal Computer Education as a possible determinant of a high level computer user. However, research on a wider scale would be needed to validate the result. Differences in the way classes were managed in a onecomputer classroom and a laboratory were evident. Teachers spent most time with those students working away from the computer in the one-computer classroom and most time with those working at the computer in the laboratory setting. Methods of evaluation were shown to be necessarily different depending on whether work was carried out in a laboratory or a one-computer classroom. Finally, the study pointed to the need for non-government schools and system managers to begin long-term planning for hardware and software purchase and resource management in order to provide teachers with the tools needed to integrate computer use effectively. Such planning would need to include provision for professional development.

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Wilde, Lee Ellen, and n/a. "The concept of excellence in education in ACT primary schools." University of Canberra. Education, 1992. http://erl.canberra.edu.au./public/adt-AUC20050527.143328.

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From a philosophical and historical analysis of education in Australia since World War II and consideration of the research into school effectiveness and community expectations of education, a concept of "excellence" was derived: "Excellence in education" in its various institutionalised forms describes a state where there is a community perception that worthwhile goals have been formulated, attempts are made to achieve those goals using appropriately defined processes and that those goals are being achieved to the satisfaction of community members. It was also asserted that because of the diversity introduced into Australian society by sociocultural, economic and political developments since World War II, "excellence in education" may take many forms. This demands diversity in schooling so that these different forms of excellence may be achieved. This "excellence" was seen to be a relative concept rather than an absolute one. Information was collected from six primary schools from both the government and non-govenunent sectors of the ACT, using swey instruments, interviews and document analysis. This information related to the perceptions of the family, staff and student sectors of these schools about the importance and achievement of various factors in the areas of goals and philosophy, curriculum, teaching and learning practices, general organisation and school atmosphere. The study found that, while these schools, all being concerned with the education of primary school children in the same local and national context, exhibited certain common elements, they also demonstrated a variety of other features in a variety of combinations, giving each school a distinctive profile. Moreover, these school communities each judged their particular school being "Excellent" and "meeting expectations", and yet were accepting of some discrepancy between what they considered ideal and what was actually achieved. Thus it was shown that excellence in education is a relative concept in the ACT, if not in contemporary Australian society as a whole.

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Fisher, Elaine Kirstin. "A comparison of mathematics education in government and private schools in Mahbubnagar, India." Thesis, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 2007. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.438031.

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Welsh, Mary, and n/a. "Promoting quality schooling in Australia : Commonwealth Government policy-making for schools (1987-1996)." University of Canberra. Education, 2000. http://erl.canberra.edu.au./public/adt-AUC20061110.123723.

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Promoting the quality of school education has been an issue of international, national and local significance in Australia over the past three decades. Since 1973 the pursuit of quality in school education has been embedded in the rhetoric of educational discourse and framed by the wider policy context. This study focuses on the Commonwealth (federal) government's policy agenda to promote the quality of schooling between 1987 and 1996. During this ten year period, successive Labor governments sought to promote quality through a range of policy initiatives and funding programs. Through extensive documentary research, fifty semi-structured interviews and one focus group with elite policy makers and stakeholders, the study examines how the Commonwealth government's 'quality agenda' was constructed and perceived. An analysis of relevant government reports and ministerial statements provides documentary evidence of this agenda, both in terms of stated policy intentions and the actual policy initiatives and funding programs set in place in the period 1987-1996. Set against this analysis are elite informants' perspectives on Commonwealth policy-making in this period - how quality was conceptualised as a policy construct and as a policy solution, the influences on Commonwealth policies for schools, whether there was a 'quality agenda' and how that agenda was constructed and implemented. Informants generally perceived quality as a diffuse, but all-encompassing concept which had symbolic and substantive value as a policy construct. In the context of Commonwealth schools' policies, quality was closely associated with promoting equity, outcomes, accountability, national consistency in schooling and teacher quality. Promoting the quality of 'teaching and learning' in Australian schools took on particular significance in the 1990s through a number of national policy initiatives brokered by the Commonwealth government. An exploration of policy processes through interview data reveals the multi-layered nature of policy-making in this period, involving key individuals, intergovernmental and national forums. In particular, it highlights the importance of a strong, reformist Commonwealth Minister (John Dawkins), a number of 'policy brokers' within and outside government and national collaboration in constructing and maintaining the Commonwealth's 'quality agenda' for schools. While several Australian education ii policy analysts have described policy-making in this period in terms of 'corporate federalism' (Lingard, 1991, 1998; Bartlett, Knight and Lingard, 1991; Lingard, O'Brien and Knight, 1993), a different perspective emerges from this study on policymaking at the national level. Despite unprecedented levels of national collaboration on matters related to schooling in this period, this research reveals an apparent ambivalence on the part of some elite policy makers towards the Commonwealth's policy agenda and its approach to schools' policy-making within the federal arena. Policy coherence emerged as a relevant issue in this study through analysis of interview data and a review of related Australian and international policy literature. Overall, informants perceived the Commonwealth's quality agenda to be relatively coherent in terms of policy intentions, but much less coherent in terms of policy implementation. Perceptions of Commonwealth domination, state parochialism, rivalry, delaying tactics and a general lack of trust and cooperation between policy players and stakeholders were cited as major obstacles to 'coherent' policy-making. An analysis of informants' views on policy-making in this period highlights features of coherent policy-making which have theoretical and practical significance in the Australian context. This research also demonstrates the benefits of going beyond the study of written policy texts to a richer analysis of recent policy history based on elite interviewing. The wide range of views offered by elite policy makers and stakeholders in this study both confirms and challenges established views about policy-making in the period 1987-1996. Elite interviewing lent itself to a grounded theory approach to data collection and analysis (Glaser and Strauss, 1967; Strauss and Corbin, 1998). This approach was significant in that it allowed relevant issues to emerge in the process of research, rather than relying on 'up front' theoretical frameworks for the analysis of data.

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Tan, Chin Kern Joseph. "Leadership and the strategic planning process in two government secondary schools in Singapore." Thesis, University of Leicester, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/7808.

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This thesis centres on the research problem of leadership and strategic planning processes in two Singapore government secondary schools, both of which were engaged in the strategic planning guided by the School Excellence Model (SEM) Framework launched in 2000. Many schools are apprehensive toward this mandatory requirement. They are unclear of the strategic planning approach, process, or model to adopt. This study investigates how the strategic planning process was established and managed in two contrasting case schools, and expounds on the factors influencing the strategic planning processes in each school. Emanating from the aims, the study seeks to address the following research questions: First, what do school leaders and teachers understand by strategic planning? Second, what are leaders’ and teachers’ perspectives on how schools develop their strategic plans? Third, what are leaders’ and teachers’ perspectives on how the strategic plan is implemented, managed and led? Fourth, what are the perceived helping and hindering factors engaging in strategic planning? In addressing the research questions, a case study approach and qualitative research methods using interviews, non-participative observations, and documentary analysis were employed to elicit in-depth information from school leaders and teachers of two contrasting schools, one deemed successful and the other less so, in implementing, leading and managing the strategic planning spectrum. Key findings, inter alia, suggest that the principal’s approach to leadership of the process of strategic planning greatly influenced the likelihood of successful implementation, influencing and shaping the approach of other senior staff and teachers. In particular, a more democratic and consultative approach inspired staff more to execute the plan compared to command and control –something of a paradox for Singaporean schools, given their centralised culture. Findings also affirmed that time allocated for strategic reviews at planning meetings, coupled with effective communication strategy to involve stakeholders, can enhance strategic thinking and capability of staff.

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Alajmi, Saad Shaji Saad. "Factors influencing information and communication technology implementation in government secondary schools in Kuwait." Thesis, University of Exeter, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10036/3682.

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Over the last few decades, Information Communication Technology (ICT) has become increasingly important in all organisations in modern societies including schools. Expectation about ICT and its role in developing and transforming the educational process through its inclusion in the daily school environment is increasing in many developed and developing countries. Many researchers and practitioners are involved in exploring and investigating ICT implementation in the learning and teaching process in secondary schools. This research explores and investigates influential factors and barriers surrounding ICT implementation in government secondary schools in Kuwait from the perspectives of students, teachers and expert educators. The study is executed through two phases: an exploratory pilot study, (see Appendix 11), and this deep investigating study. The exploration and investigation process of this study focuses on six main areas: the ICT policies and strategies in the Ministry of Education, the readiness of school environment for ICT implementation, teachers' views regarding ICT, surrounding socio-political factors, other main barriers to ICT implementation and, finally, the main requirements for better ICT implementation. The research has adopted a sociocultural approach whereby research problem has been explored and investigated through different individuals in different contexts that are related directly or indirectly to ICT implementation in government secondary schools. Data, as well, has been collected through a wide range of probing methods such as documents, self-managed questionnaires and interviews in order to answer the research question. The pilot study explores the research situation through 52 students and four teachers and in this main study 306 teachers were investigated through questionnaires and 15 teachers and expert educators were interviewed. The findings indicate that Government of Kuwait and the Ministry of Education have a strong intention to implement ICT in secondary schools and have already executed many related practical steps. The study also reveals that most teachers have positive views towards ICT. However, findings also show that the school environment is not yet ready for ICT implementation and that policy and decision-making processes are suffering from a lack of clear vision and instability. The surrounding socio-political factors have a negative impact on educational policy in general and ICT policy in particular. This research also identifies some other barriers to ICT implementation and, finally, highlights some requirements for improving the implementation of ICT.

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Mustafa, Ghassoub Sharif Hassan. "English language teaching and learning at government schools in the United Arab Emirates." Thesis, University of Exeter, 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.269828.

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This thesis presents the findings of a study that investigated the teaching and learning of English in female government schools in the United Arab Emirates. The research was conducted by means of qualitative methods and 61 participants participated in the interviews. The research sample represents the three main parties that are directly concerned with teaching and learning English and they are: schoolteachers, school graduates, and higher education teachers. The investigation reveals three main aspects of English language teaching and learning at school. First, schoolteachers use ineffective grammar-translation methods with some principles from the direct and communicative methods. Second, school graduates have negative perceptions of English language teaching at schools and blame it on their failure to learn the language. Finally, tertiary institutions receive school graduates with poor English. There are a number of factors that affect teachers' performance in the English class. First, the syllabus is prescriptive and there is a heavy emphasis on textbooks and exams. Second, teachers operate according to a given scheme, which prioritizes high success rates in English as a school subject, and de-emphasizes English as a medium of communication. This has led to restricting teachers' autonomy and causing stagnation in the process of learning English. Also due to teachers' beliefs and other overwhelming circumstances, they resorted to the transmission model to deliver information to exam takers rather than language learners. The abovementioned conditions reflect negatively on students' attitudes, motivation, and learning style. However, they cling to a small amount of instrumental motivation that energizes them to study for the exam. Although many students are aware of the importance of English, they are not given an opportunity to learn it appropriately, which lowers their motivation substantially. Additionally, the English classroom lacks a humane classroom environment.

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Birmingham, Matthew J. "Federalism and spheres of justice: The role of religion in Australian government schools." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2016. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/96479/1/Matthew_Birmingham_Thesis.pdf.

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This thesis examines the role of religion in Australian government schools. Drawing on analysis of frameworks for religion in curriculum and as instruction, and informed by the case of the National School Chaplaincy Program, the research considers how the issue is determined at the state and territory level and, in some cases, by school communities. The thesis found that discourse taking place in the context of contemporary Australian federal arrangements for government schooling gives rise to communities of interest existing at different levels which determine the reach of religion in this public space, as considered appropriate to their needs.

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Hu, Jingfei, and 胡竞菲. "School-government relationships in the setting of decentralisation: two school voucher schemes in China." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2010. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B44548825.

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Hodgkinson, Ellen Mary. "An exploration of how policy implementation is perceived to contribute to capacity building within schools." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2007. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/2399/.

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This is a study of how UK public sector organisations both build and define capacity for improvement. Public service quality in the UK remains a subject of ongoing importance, not least because of its contribution to economic growth of the country as a whole but also because of the needs and wants of the civil population as consumers of those services. It is considered that in order to improve service in a continuous and sustainable manner, organisations must develop the capacity for improvement through the process of capacity building. The research is based in the field of Education, at school level, from which the implementation and effects of a particular capacity building policy can be examined. The policy in question is PPA time (Planning, Preparation, and Assessment time), which forms part of the government's agenda for Workforce Reform. In conducting this exploratory research, a qualitative approach to a case study based research design is adopted. An interpretive analysis of cases facilitates a richness and depth of understanding. Six detailed case studies are carried out at schools serving Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils in one Local Authority in the West Midlands. A number of research methods are employed to facilitate triangulation of the data, including semi-structured interviews, observation, a survey, and a diary study. This thesis makes three contributions to new knowledge. Firstly, it develops understanding of the role of certain influences on internal capacity. Some are found to influence internal capacity directly through their impact upon internal capabilities. Others are found to influence internal capacity indirectly through the way in which they impact upon implementation of a capacity building policy. Influences are further found to be `enablers', which if present would enhance internal capabilities; `qualifiers'; without which, particular influences would `inhibit' internal capabilities, and which had the potential to become `enablers'; and `inhibitors', which had detrimental effects on internal capabilities. Secondly, it examines the relationship between direct influences and internal capacity to find that several of the influences in the extant literature are less significant in the context of a policy designed to build capacity. Further, it finds that particular influences affect other influences and so are `higher order' influences. Thirdly, it interprets the literature and research findings to conclude that `capacity building' is best understood as: the process of developing the necessary resources to meet improvement objectives, and of maximising the benefits of those resources through organisational capabilities.

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Sturmfels, Michael S. "A qualitative study of staff stress, morale and well-being in Victorian government schools /." Connect to thesis, 2009. http://repository.unimelb.edu.au/10187/6668.

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Myers, Ian, and n/a. "The relationship between pupil control ideology and subject faculties in ACT government high schools." University of Canberra. Education, 1985. http://erl.canberra.edu.au./public/adt-AUC20061027.123030.

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The purpose of the study was to establish that a relationship existed between teacher Pupil Control Ideology (PCI) and membership of a practical subject faculty or of a humanities subject faculty in ACT government high schools. It was hypothesized that teachers in practical subject faculties and teachers of practical subjects would be custodial in their PCI. Teachers in humanities subject faculties and teachers of humanities subjects would be humanistic in their PCI. A subsidiary purpose was to replicate earlier research findings of a relationship between PCI and years of teaching, sex, position in the school administration, and type of school. The PCI Form was administered to a population sample of 116 teachers from five high schools in the Belconnen area of Canberra. The results were subjected to t-test and one-way analysis of variance. Statistically significant relationships were observed between PCI and teacher variables of subject faculty, subject taught, and sex of teacher. Earlier findings for other variables were not replicated. The direction of findings was surprising. Teachers in practical subject faculties and of practical subjects were more humanistic than humanities faculty and subject teachers. Female teachers were more custodial than male teachers. An analysis of variance showed no interaction effect between variables sex and faculty, and sex and subject taught. More research on possible causes of the relationships, such as student attitude to subject, and teacher sense of achievement, is needed before the findings can have practical application.

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Knuppe, Peter Johan. "An evaluation of e–Government as a support system in public schools / Knuppe P.J." Thesis, North-West University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/7356.

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The objective of the study was to develop a framework for the implementation of a Business Information Management System in order to increase the efficiency of the knowledge management strategy in the ultimate quest to deliver administrative support to public schools at the Gauteng Department of Education within the Sedibeng East District Office geographical area. A literature investigation was done on the concepts of e–Government, eplatforms, information technology and enablers to determine if Government models are working effectively and efficiently. Based on the findings of the literature study, a questionnaire was designed and used to measure the efficiency of the knowledge management strategy in the base of administrative support to public schools. Government to Government models are the ability to interact and support services through the availability of e–platforms in the ultimate support, and sharing of knowledge through effective knowledge management. Knowledge in an organisation alternates between tacit and explicit knowledge as it goes from an idea to explicit knowledge that can be shared throughout the whole organisation and in the process gives the necessary administrative support to public schools and learners. Proper managed and implemented systems are important for the management of knowledge in an organisation. Knowledge management is a never–ending cycle that starts at discovering knowledge and goes through generating knowledge, evaluating knowledge, sharing the newly found knowledge to leveraging the knowledge. This cycle forms the heart of a knowledge management model like the different education e–platforms that is available. It was concluded that the knowledge in an organisation can be managed with the help of one standardized e–platform model throughout the entire Education Department. Knowledge in an organisation is a very important resource and ought to be strategically managed. The knowledge management strategy starts by determining what knowledge is needed and what is available in the organisation. The chosen standardized model will form the central part of a successful knowledge management strategy. The test for the success of a knowledge management strategy is determined with a knowledge audit. The state of the knowledge management strategy at Gauteng Department of Education, Sedibeng East District Office was assessed by employing convenience survey questionnaires to extract the data. Sedibeng East District Office and therefore the Department of Education, still have a long way to go in order to optimise the management of knowledge. The key area of concern is a lack of a written knowledge management strategy and policy which results in informal e–platform usage and therefore different ways of managing knowledge. A large portion of the indecisiveness seen in the analysis of the questionnaires could be attributed to the lack of a formal knowledge management strategy. It was further concluded that a knowledge gap assessment is the start of the knowledge management strategy and will give direction to the strategy. The culture at Sedibeng East District Office was not tested to determine if the staff will be supportive of a knowledge management strategy. However, the survey indicated that much needed administrative support to public schools needs to be formalized in order to optimize the services and standards of support. A practical knowledge management framework is proposed in order to assist the Department in the implementation of a knowledge management strategy and bridging the gaps found after analysing the questionnaires.
Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

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Sterman, Julia. "Outdoor play decision-making by families, schools, and local government for children with disabilities." Thesis, Australian Catholic University, 2018. https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/download/091654faf0fe100563a693295e747e980729c348ac21a14be0232f2f777fac60/6769224/STERMAN_2018_Outdoor_play_decision_making_by_families.pdf.

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Introduction: Play is a right for all children and an essential childhood occupation. Yet, children with disabilities experience exclusion from outdoor play participation. How children’ skills interact with the environment in which they live, notably their family, school, and community, shapes their play choice. Aim: The aim of this study was to understand outdoor play decision-making at family, school, and local government levels for primary school-age children with disabilities. Method: A multiple-perspective case study allowed for comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon of outdoor play decision-making. Data collection included: interviews with five parents of children with disabilities, four teaching assistants, three special education teachers, one vice principal, four local government employees, and two employees of not-for-profit organizations within one culturally and linguistically diverse local government area; one week parent survey of their child’s play the day before; observations at school and community playgrounds; document review; and video-assisted recall with four school employees. Analysis was guided by cross-case analysis, interpretive description, and analytical deduction and involved first understanding individual perspectives, and then considering similarities and differences within and between stakeholder groups. Discussions are considered through the application of the capabilities approach. Findings: Families valued and planned for play within the context of their child’s interests and abilities and their family’s needs. Schools had low play expectations and considered the children’s presence on the playground sufficient. When considering playgrounds, local government focused on meeting minimal requirements and physical access rather than social inclusion. School and local government’s predominately-negative perception of children with disabilities and their families affected meaningful engagement. Conclusion: Children experienced greater play choice within their families than at school or in the community. Families should continue to value play as a means and ends, and plan for play based on their values and their child’s interests. To increase play choice and inclusion, the school needs to increase play expectations for children with disabilities and better support the play environment. Local government must increase meaningful engagement with families, and consider how to support the entire family’s playground inclusion. Finally, inclusive language should be modelled across ecocultural levels.

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Gupta, Romanshi. "Sanitation, Ek Prem Katha: The Impact of Sanitation on Education in Indian Government Schools." Scholarship @ Claremont, 2019. https://scholarship.claremont.edu/scripps_theses/1260.

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The Total Sanitation Campaign is an initiative launched by the Government of India in 1999 to accelerate sanitation coverage throughout the country. This thesis measures the impact of the Total Sanitation Campaign on education in Indian government schools. I assess whether access to toilets, access to water or access to both toilets and water impact the following parameters of education: literacy, current enrollment in school or completed years of education. Data is sourced from the Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS) 2005, sorted for the nineteen major states in India and aggregated at a district level for each state. The analysis employs two separate probit regression models to assess sanitation facilities’ impact on literacy and current enrollment in school, and a robust linear model to assess sanitation facilities’ impact on completed years of education. The models control for age, sex, caste, religion, household location, household size and household income. The results indicate that sanitation facilities positively impact education based on the age, sex and caste of the sample population. These findings present implications for future policymaking in order to improve access to and participation in education.

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MacDonald, W. L. "The nature and extent of pastoral care in five Western Australian government secondary schools." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1994. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1101.

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The research is centred upon the nature and extent of pastoral care provision in five Western Australian Government secondary schools. The project took the form of five case-studies, set in schools which each had well established pastoral strategies in place. The schools plans and policies were influenced by contexts of State and Federal education programmes, by the community setting of each school, by community concerns, and by other priorities within the school itself. In the study, information was collected through interviews and written responses from school staff, through documentary evidence of plans and policies for pastoral care, and through the observation of meetings which related to pastoral concerns. The study found that each school had complex structures in place which were resource intensive and which were designed to deliver pastoral care. The basis of those structures rested upon the presumption that pastoral care delivery took place at classroom level, particularly in Form classes. Findings suggested that such delivery was adversely affected by time constraints, and by deficiencies in pre-service and in-service training For teachers in the area of pastoral care. The services of specialists in the schools had decreased due to expenditure restraints, at a time of increased pastoral demands. Little evaluation of the outcomes of plans, policies, and delivery structures for pastoral care was found.

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Jaidin, Jainatul Halida. "Conceptions of learning held by upper primary children in government schools in Brunei Darussalam." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2009. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/30349/1/Halida_Jaidin_Thesis.pdf.

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The current study examined the conceptions of learning held by upper primary children in government schools in Brunei. Previous studies have shown that the conceptions of learning held by students influence the ways in which they approach learning tasks and, in turn, impact on their learning outcomes. However, the majority of these studies were carried out with university and secondary school students, with little research involving primary school children. A phenomenographic research approach was used to describe the qualitatively different ways in which a group of sixteen upper primary children experienced learning in two government schools in Brunei. Data were gathered using scenariobased semi�]structured interviews. Iterative cycles of analysis revealed three categories of description depicting three qualitatively different ways in which the children experienced the phenomenon. The three categories of description were: learning as acquiring information (Category 1), learning as remembering information (Category 2) and learning as doing hands�]on activities (Category 3). These categories indicate a variation in the ways in which upper primary children experience learning in government schools in Brunei. The conceptions of learning held by the children provide a platform from which educators and policy�]makers can consider possibilities for meaningful learning in government schools in Brunei.

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David, Veronica Anne, and n/a. ""A gleam in the eye..." : An investigation : self-esteem of high school teachers in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government Schools." University of Canberra. Education, 1988. http://erl.canberra.edu.au./public/adt-AUC20060704.120747.

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This study attempted to investigate the self-esteem of high school teachers in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Its purpose was to measure the self-esteem of high school teachers in the ACT, identify perceptions of life-stage factors that might contribute to teachers' self-esteem and to identify teachers' perceptions of job-related factors that contribute to their self-esteem. The sample consisted of 219 teachers (94 male, 124 female, one of unidentified sex) in 12 of the 17 high schools in the ACT. A questionnaire based on that used by Swafford Jolley (1985) was used. It consisted of 4 parts - Part 1 demographic data, Part 2a Barksdale Self-Esteem Index No. 69, Part 2b Life-stage Characteristics, Part 3 Job-related characteristics, Part 4 - three related questions for open responses. Data were analysed using the SPSSX data recording and analysis system (Norusis 1983). Means and differences between means were computed to establish discrepancies. Pearson product moment correlations were employed. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to isolate the best predictors of self-esteem from among the 34 work-related factors. A rank discrepancy index of affect on self-esteem was also computed. Findings show that eighty per cent of the teachers may be hindered by low self-esteem. There is no difference between male and female average age (39) nor between the male and female average self-esteem index (62.2). Younger teachers were found to be just as likely to have low self-esteem as older teachers. The factors which most affect teacher self-esteem and which are closest to the ideal were found to be feelings of competency as a teacher, pride in one's work, establishment of specific personal goals and the opportunity to determine one's own teaching methods. The factors with the greatest discrepancies were found to be the opportunity to advance professionally, positive representation by the media and prestige of the teaching profession. It was concluded that in no one area are the self-esteem needs of high school teachers in the Australian Capital Territory being adequately met. Responsibility lies with the individuals themselves and with the ACT Schools Authority to work out joint ways of enhancing teacher self-esteem and development. It is argued that this cannot be left to chance by the organisation but must be planned for as a matter of urgency. Recognition of the individual is seen as the key in any such planning but organisational objectives also need to be considered.

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Sayser, Nickfred Johane. "Development of an instrument that supports and monitors inclusive cultures, policies and practices in a Western Cape School." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/4222.

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Magister Educationis - MEd
The democratisation of the South African government created a policy environment that enabled transformation in every sphere of our society. Transformation of the education sector was marked by the adoption of inclusive education as a constitutional imperative in this country. This resulted in attempts to make ordinary mainstreams schools more accessible to learners with disabilities. The transformation of schools into inclusive institutions is a tedious process that is being further complicated by the contentious nature of the notion of inclusion. The challenge to schools and institutions is that there is no measuring instrument against which schools can measure their own development, and which can inform the process they embark on. Against this backdrop this study aimed at developing an instrument that could guide schools through the process of becoming more inclusive. The question that this study seeks to answer is: What are the indicators that can be used to evaluate the development of inclusive practices in mainstream schools in the Western Cape context? Methodologically the study is set in a qualitative research paradigm that employed a participatory action research method (PAR), that matches the spirit of democracy that permeates the society in which participants in study found themselves in. In-depth interviews were used to pursue the aim of the study. Inclusive education is described in literature as an elusive and contentious concept. This description resonated well with the findings of this study as participants conceptualised inclusive education in a variety of ways. The study explored the three interconnected dimensions of inclusive education to direct the development of inclusive education in a school. This exploration yielded a variety of indicators for each dimension that were categorised in general indicators and more specific indicators. These general and specific indicators, as were foregrounded by the participants, were then collated in an instrument that the stakeholders of the school could use to support and monitor the implementation of inclusive cultures, policies and practices in their school.

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Hawkins, Jimmy R. (Jimmy Ray). "State Participation in Funding Capital Projects and Improvements in Texas Public Schools." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1993. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278877/.

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The impact of four basic capital project funding models for state participation was determined for the school districts in Texas. A review of the historical background for funding of capital projects and improvements by states was followed by a review of the historical background of state support for funding capital projects in the State of Texas. Additionally, the current funding models and methods of determining need were reviewed for all of the states. This historical review revealed that facility funding, like aid for maintenance and operation, has evolved with all the states at different stages.

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Yuen, Wai Wa Timothy. "Teaching politics : a study of the subject "government and public affairs" in Hong Kong’s schools." Thesis, Durham University, 2004. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/2839/.

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Government and Public Affairs (GPA), a subject at senior secondary level, was set up in Hong Kong in 1980's, as part of the civic education drive to prepare for the change of sovereignty in 1997. It still is the only subject whose content is entirely about the study of politics and government. This study investigates the perceptions of GPA teachers with regard to how the subject is taught and how the subject may have an impact on the students with regard to the key concerns of civic education m Hong Kong, namely national identity, patriotism, democratic learning and international outlook. It aims at filling the literature gap about the implementation of GPA in schools. Results of the study may also be used as reference when politics is considered as a subject taught in the formal curriculum. Qualitative analysis was used and it was done in the tradition of the grounded theory. GPA teachers and other pertinent parties, namely curriculum planners, public examination setters and the Subject Officer at the Hong Kong Examination and Assessment Authority were interviewed. In line with the tradition of grounded theory, theoretical sampling was used and academics were invited to comment on significant concepts that emerged in the study. The results of the study show that didactic methods are commonly adopted by many teachers and the subject may only have very little or even negative effect on enhancing national identity and patriotism of the students. The subject's contribution to democratic learning and the development of international perspectives in understanding politics is also limited. These need to be understood against an analysis that takes into account milieu, curriculum design and personal beliefs of the teachers. A model is proposed to explain the salient features of the analysis. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the subject's delivery are made.

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Mwangi, Lucy. "Special Needs Education (SNE) in Kenyan public primary schools : exploring government policy and teachers' understandings." Thesis, Brunel University, 2013. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/7767.

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This research focuses on Special Needs Education (SNE) in Kenyan Public Primary Schools: Exploring Government Policy and Teachers’ understandings. At a time when Kenya is introducing reforms with a view to addressing broad national objectives and providing universal primary education (UPE) after the massive enrolment increases arising from the free primary education declaration (FPE), it was important to establish teachers’ understandings on SEN. The study was undertaken in 27 primary schools in urban, municipal and rural parts of Kenya. A phenomenological qualitative approach was mainly used and data were collected from teachers through a survey comprising: (i) 159 self-administered questionnaires ii) Nine in-depth interviews. From the results of a pilot study, necessary adaptations were made for the main study. The data provided insights to teachers’ teaching strategies, impacts of mainstreaming, factors that prevent the participation of children said to have SEN, challenges in meeting the diverse needs in the classroom and the support they may require in providing more engaging and effective learning instructions. The findings show that many teachers lack a repertoire of learning and teaching strategies appropriate for addressing barriers to learning and providing individualized approaches in the classrooms. Some teachers were positive about teaching children said to have SEN but lacked the infrastructure of support and guidance, were confused by different terminologies and found the concept of SEN not to be enabling. What teachers are calling for is more training to help them develop strategies which are responsive to the identified learning difficulties. Through Documentary Analysis of the Kenya National Special Needs Education (SNE) Policy Framework, Ministry of Education (MoE, 2009), it was identified that the policy is difficult and ambiguous for teachers to implement. The policy fails to include salient definitions to facilitate a common way of addressing children said to have SEN which results in them being labelled. The recommendations of the research indicate that children’s unique needs be made transparent and addressed using effective individualized education plans to influence and maintain high expectations, positive and enriched ways of teaching in order to improve the children’s learning opportunities as well as other extracurricular activities. The national policy should be revised to include feasible targets in order to facilitate on-going evaluation and embed definitions of key words which are pivotal to planning, assessment, identification, provision and placement of children said to have SEN. Suggestions for further research have also been included.

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Ertan, Naciye. "Factors relating to women attaining principal positions in Victoria's government secondary schools: A case study." Thesis, Australian Catholic University, 2004. https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/download/8fdb0914a12e898ac6a5c90dfe3ed7fa89af8b3c917be5257d2fec877ba46789/12634367/64859_downloaded_stream_84.pdf.

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Regardless of the promotion structures employed within the different educational systems of this country, men dominate the position of Principal of secondary schools. Despite legislation seeking to provide equality of opportunity and the apparent breaking down of deeply entrenched societal attitudes of women being the servers or followers, there still exist factors that give rise to the under-representation of women in Principal positions of secondary schools. This thesis was designed to investigate issues associated with the apparent gender imbalance in Principal positions in Victoria's government secondary schools. It will attempt to identify elements that have militated against women gaining such positions.

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Dixon, Kathryn C. "Factors affecting the institutionalisation of career and vocational programs In Western Australian government secondary schools." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1999. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1479.

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The aim of this study is to investigate the institutionalisation of career and vocational programs in Western Australian government secondary schools. Five specific objectives form the basis of the study. First, the study aims to determine the meanings which teachers construct for Career Education programs in schools. Second, the study examines the direct effects of personal construction of meaning, individual assimilation and organisational assimilation on the institutionalisation of Career Education. Third, the study determines the relationships between the personal construction of meaning, individual assimilation, organisational assimilation and institutionalisation of Career Education. Fourth, the study investigates the effectiveness of a causal model based on prior theoretical assumptions and factors identified by the sample and the literature as being influential in the institutionalisation of Career Education, using the method of path analysis. Fifth, the study develops an instrument to measure the institutionalisation of Career Education in secondary schools.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Government schools'

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