Die voorbereiding van departementshoofde in sekondêre skole as effektiewe onderrigleiers

Abstract

It is human nature to see the world as imperfect, because people strive towards improving existing systems and designing new systems. The education system is one of the systems that is regarded as being a challenge in South Africa, and it affects the quality of education received for every young South African. The serious nature of dysfunctionality could be attributed to the lack of competent leadership in schools. Learners’ education and examination results are being impaired by inadequate teaching, dysfunctional school management, inefficient procedures and poor resources, which foster low educational standards. Leadership practices make a great contribution to the desired outcomes of a school. Department heads are responsible for educational leadership; however, as they rarely receive training, it is impossible for them to acquire the knowledge and skills to prepare them for their task as educational leaders. There is a serious need for educational leaders who could run a school professionally. The principal and staff should be professional leaders and managers to establish a culture of learning and effectiveness. The main purpose of this investigation was to identify the gaps in the preparation of department heads as middle-level managers. The following question emerged: Do department heads have the required knowledge and skills to prepare them for the leadership and management role in a secondary school? Furthermore, the investigation aimed to determine how department heads see their competence, to identify the gaps regarding the preparation of department heads as effective educational leaders and to submit proposals for improving the preparation of department heads. The research methodology is based on quantitative research strategies according to which the research question is answered through a once-off cross-sectional survey obtained from a random cluster sampling of secondary schools in the Free State. Approximately 70 schools with a variety of needs in the Lejweleputswa District in the Free State were approached to collect data. Self-designed questionnaires, which had to be completed by all of the department heads at the schools, were used. A total of 186 department heads participated in the investigation.