The role of the School Management Team in promoting a culture of teaching and learning
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Date
1999
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Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the school management team in promoting a culture of teaching and learning.
From the literature study it became evident that the culture of teaching and learning in many South African schools has almost disappeared in its entirety. Most of the schools of the former education departments responsible for black education are characterised by a high failure rate, early school dropout, lack of discipline, low morale and an anti-academic attitude amongst teachers as well as learners. To these schools very little has changed since 1994 when the new government came into power. It would appear that a culture of teaching and learning in these schools does not exists. The ongoing turmoil in these schools underscores, inter alia, the failure of school management teams in assuming responsibility for promoting a culture of teaching and learning. Promoting a culture of teaching and learning involves a collaborative act between school management, teachers and learners. Many stakeholders in education seem to be helpless when confronted with problems related to teaching and learning in schools. It often seems as if their hope rests in the initiatives of school management teams to promote a culture of teaching and learning. The members of school management teams, as educational leaders, therefore have a vital role to play in creating a culture of teaching and learning.
Although it is generally believed that school management teams, as educational leaders, are responsible for promoting a culture of teaching and learning, the situation is far from satisfactory. The causes for the absence of a culture of teaching and learning can be attributed to factors concerning the learners, factors concerning the school environment, societal factors and problems concerning the homes of learners and their living environment as well as the lack of parental involvement in the formal education of their children. Members of school management teams should have no uncertainties as to their responsibilities as educational leaders. Principals, deputy principals and heads of departments are both educational leaders and managers and their primary task or responsibility is to ensure that effective teaching and learning takes place.
For the purpose of the empirical investigation a self structured questionnaire for members of school management teams was utilised. The data obtained from the completed questionnaires were processed and analyzed by means of descriptive statistics. Findings confirmed that the school management team has a significant role to play in promoting a culture of teaching and learning. In conclusion a summary was presented on the findings of the study and the following are some of the recommendations that were made:
The members of the school management team must inculculate positive attitudes and values in teachers and learners.
All teachers should be governed by a code of conduct that will prohibit unprofessional behaviour.
The management team must ensure the adoption of a code of conduct for learners.
Description
Submitted in fulfilment
of the requirement for the degree
MASTER OF EDUCATION
in the
Department of Educational Psychology
of the
Faculty of Education
at the
University of Zululand, 1999.
Keywords
School management team, Culture of teaching and learning