Implementation of performance management by the school management team in primary schools

Abstract

The main concern in this study is the demand for the delivery of quality education in schools. This concern prompted the Education Department to introduce accountability measures that included the three-legged Integrated Ouality Management System (IOMS). One important requirement of the IOMS is that the school management team should assist teachers to enable them to teach more effectively thereby improving the quality of education delivered to learners. One way of achieving effective performance is the implementation of performance management. With the above considerations in mind this research was conducted to investigate what performance management entailed, what the views and perceptions of school management teams in primary schools were with regard to it and what recommendations can be made to assist school management teams in implementing performance management. A literature study was conducted to expose the essence of performance management. On the basis on the literature study, an empirical research was conducted from the interpretivist paradigm, using the qualitative research design and the specific method of structured interviews. Participants consisted of members of the school management teams in three primary schools in the Rustenburg Area (N=11). The major findings of the research showed that participants did not fully understand what performance management entails there being a lack of a coherent, systematic process of implementing it. However, participants implemented some of the aspects of performance management such as mentoring, monitoring and coaching. It also came to light that school management teams faced difficulties in the implementation of performance management notably that teachers displayed a negative attitude towards performance management. The research is useful as a beginning in investigating this little understood issue and serves as a basis for further research.