Abstract:
The study evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of representation of educators, by their unions.
Questionnaires and open-ended interviews were used to collect data from educators, union officials and school principals. Data is analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively.
The study reveals that, while union officials recognize the significance of their role in educator representation, there are challenges in performing this role. Chief among these are:
> Inadequate communication between union officials and educators.
> Limited ability of union officials to:
□ Build the capacity of educators as professionals.
□ Familiarize educators about legislation such as the Labour Relations Act, Employment of Educators Act and others.
Lack of capacity of both union officials as representatives of educators and educators as the constituency, presents a potential to threaten accountable industrial democracy.
The candidate makes a series of recommendations to foster educator representation. These recommendations culminate in a model tabled in the last chapter of the study. This model gives guidelines on systems and processes, which underpin and enhance efficient and effective educator representation. The model is a contribution to building responsible democracy in general, but industrial democracy in particular, within the educator system in the country.
