South Africa: Research on South African Public School Principals, an Uncompromising Desire to Improve the Quality of Education

2016 ◽  
pp. 521-543
Author(s):  
Johan Beckmann ◽  
Keshni Bipath
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Public School ◽  
South African ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Quality Of Education ◽  
Public School Principals

scholarly journals The prevailing leadership styles of public school principals and their relation to the quality of education from the point of view of quality education evaluators in Jordan

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maha Saleh Ibrahim Haddad
Keyword(s):  
Public School ◽  
Leadership Styles ◽  
Quality Indicators ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Quality Of Education ◽  
Public School Principals ◽  
Arithmetic Average ◽  
Democratic Leadership

The study aimed to identify the prevailing leadership styles (democratic,autocratic, and sedentary) among the principals of public schools and their relation to the quality of education from the point of view of the evaluators of the quality of education in Jordan. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, the researcher prepared a questionnaire consisting of (35) items dealing with two fields. The first field consisted of (15) items distributed to the prevailing leadership styles among the principals. The study sample consisted of (100) residents of the quality of education in the Ministry of Education. The study found that the three leadership styles of public school principals were in favor of the democratic leadership model with an average of 3.68 and a high degree of appreciation followed by an autocratic pattern with an average of 3.35 and a medium degree of appreciation. The mean pattern was average (2.60) with a medium degree of appreciation. The average level of assessment of the quality indicators of education and accountability was also found. The total arithmetic average of the axis (3.35). It also showed an average level of assessment of the indicators of the quality of education and accountability, where the total arithmetic average of the axis (3.35). The study found that the three leadership styles of public school principals were in favor of the democratic leadership pattern at an average of 3.68 and high, followed by the autocratic pattern with an average of 3.35 and a medium grade. The plurality came last with an average of (2.60) Education (adequacy, security, credibility, effectiveness), and a statistically significant relationship between prevailing leadership styles and the quality of education in Jordan. Based on the results, the study recommended activating and directing school principals to follow the democratic pattern in the practice of leadership and moving away from the autocratic and sedimentary patterns. he results also showed a strong positive correlation between leadership patterns of school principals and quality indicators of education. Based on the results, the study recommended activating and directing school principals to follow the democratic pattern in the practice of leadership and moving away from the autocratic and sedimentary patterns.

scholarly journals Quality of Life at Work and Commitment of Public School Principals

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciana Bortoncello Lorenzetti Andrade ◽  
Erivelton Fontana de Laat ◽  
Silvio Roberto Stefano
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Public School ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Public School Principals

scholarly journals An examination of the fundraising duties of public school principals and governing body chairpersons in three schools in the Newlands West Circuit in the KwaMashu District

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Poobalan Perumal
Keyword(s):  
Public School ◽  
South African ◽  
School Principals ◽  
School Funding ◽  
Education Department ◽  
Public School Principals ◽  
Governing Body ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
South African Schools Act ◽  
To Receive

The provincial education departments in South Africa pay the salaries of educators who are appointed by them. A school governing body pays for all other routine expenses incurred in the operation of a school and the employment of staff. Staff not employed by the provincial education department are paid from its school fund, which is subsidised by the state. This subsidy is based on the Norms and Standards for School Funding (South African Schools' Act No. 84 of 1996), which was implemented in January 2000. It provides for the poorest of schools (numbering approximately 40 % of all public school in Kwazulu-Natal) to receive 60 % of the funds allocated for the operational needs of the schools in Kwazulu-Natal.

Perceptions of Beginning Public School Principals

1993 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-202
Author(s):  
James E. Lyons
Keyword(s):  
Public School ◽  
Time Management ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Beginning Principals ◽  
New Principals ◽  
Local School ◽  
Principal's Role ◽  
Public School Principals ◽  
School Operations

This study was designed to determine the level of competency that beginning principals perceived they had in their primary areas of responsibility when appointed to the position. Secondarily, the study determined what beginning principals perceived to be their greatest challenges and frustrations, most familiar and most unfamiliar areas of responsibility, and who was most and least helpful to them as new principals. The findings indicated that beginning principals are challenged by the following: delegating responsibilities and becoming familiar with the principal's role, the local school, and school operations. Their major frustrations were role adjustment, the (large) amount of responsibility, and time management.

As the Postcolonial Moment Deepens: A Response to Green, Sonn, and Matsebula

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 420-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Steyn
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
State Power ◽  
World Order ◽  
Whiteness Studies ◽  
South Africans ◽  
Racial Privilege

Green, Sonn, and Matsebula's (2007) article is useful in helping to establish and develop whiteness studies in South African academia, and thus to shift the academic gaze from the margins to the centre. The article is published in the wake of three waves of international whiteness studies, which successively described whiteness as a space of taken-for-granted privilege; a series of historically different but related spaces; and, finally, as part of the global, postcolonial world order. Green, Sonn, and Matsebula's (2007) contribution could be extended by more fully capturing the dissimilarity in the texture of the experience of whiteness in Australia and South Africa. In South Africa whiteness has never had the quality of invisibility that is implied in the ‘standard’ whiteness literature, and in post-apartheid South Africa white South Africans cannot assume the same privileges, with such ease, when state power is overtly committed to breaking down racial privilege.

scholarly journals To report or not to report

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warren Maroun ◽  
Harvey Wainer
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Corporate Governance ◽  
South African ◽  
Regulatory Reform ◽  
External Audit ◽  
Whistle Blowing ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Governance Processes

Whistle-blowing can play an important role in enhancing the effectiveness of corporate governance processes. In particular, legislation mandating that auditors blow the whistle on their clients’ transgressions can assist in overcoming agency-related costs and improve confidence in external audit. This is, however, only the case if regulatory reform enjoys cohesion. The Companies Act No. 71 of 2008, by introducing a definition of ‘reportable irregularities’ different from that in the Auditing Profession Act No. 26 of 2005 (APA); excluding ‘independent reviews’ from the scope of APA; and effectively exempting the majority of South African companies from the requirement either to be audited or reviewed, may materially undermine whistle-blowing by auditors in South Africa. In turn, this begs the question: for how long will South Africa rank first globally for the quality of its auditing practices? 

scholarly journals School Leadership in Improving the Quality of Education at Integrated Islamic SMP Nurul Fadillah Deli Serdang

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 431-437
Author(s):  
Adlin Damainik ◽  
Ika Muntazah
Keyword(s):  
School Leadership ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Quality Of Education ◽  
Teacher Competence ◽  
Educational Facilities ◽  
Data Presentation ◽  
Analysis Techniques ◽  
Working Together ◽  
Descriptive Approach

This study aims to determine the principal's leadership in improving the quality of SMP IT Nurul Fadhillah, the constraints of the principal's leadership in improving the quality of schools at SMP IT Nurul Fadhilah, and the principal's efforts to improve the quality of schools at SMP IT Nurul Fadhilah. The method used in this research is qualitative research with a descriptive approach and the techniques used are observation, interviews and documentation. The subjects of this study were the principal and teachers. Data analysis techniques use data reduction, data presentation and conclusions. Ensuring the validity of research data uses credibility, transfibility, dependability and conformability. The results of this research are the principal's leadership in improving the quality of education by caring for subordinates, assertiveness, democracy, and supervision. The obstacles faced by school principals in improving the quality of schools are the lack of educational facilities and infrastructure. As for the efforts made by the principal in improving the quality of education, namely developing teacher competence, meeting the needs of school stakeholders and getting used to working together in overcoming problems.

scholarly journals Stress and Coping Among Public School Principals in a Midwest Metropolitan Sample

SAGE Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 215824401982954 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason A. Kaufman
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Public School ◽  
Elevated Level ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Coping Skills ◽  
Stress And Coping ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Public School Principals ◽  
Leading Schools ◽  
And Coping

The present study sought to investigate perceptions of stress and coping among public school principals. School principals are daily called upon to make decisions regarding a range of unscripted events. The position can be stressful, and stress is known to interfere with sound decision making. It was predicted that present samples of school principals would report a mean level of elevated stress. Contrary to expectations, school principals did not report an elevated level of stress. They instead reported an ostensibly effective reliance on problem-focused and emotion-focused coping skills. It remains unclear how the school principals developed such adaptive means for coping with the stress of leading schools. It is recommended that future research explore this question so that such skills may be transmitted to principals-in-training.

A generic investigation process for South African commercial forensic practitioners

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 587-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacobus Gerhardus J. Nortje ◽  
Daniel P. Bredenkamp
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
South African ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
Investigation Process

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to critically analyse and discuss the identification of a generic investigation process to be followed by the commercial forensic practitioner in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a cross-sectional design that commenced with a review of the current available literature, highlighting the different approaches, processes and best practices used in local and international forensic practices. The methodology includes primary data collected with questionnaires from commercial forensic practitioner (N = 75) process users. Findings This paper identifies the following five distinct categories in the forensic investigation process, with sub-processes, namely, initiation, planning, execution, reporting and reflection. Research limitations/implications The study focuses only on the South African members of the Institute of Commercial Forensic Practitioners (ICFP) fraternity in South Africa as the ICFP is a leading body that, through membership, offers a recognised professional qualification in commercial forensics. Practical implications An investigation process for commercial forensic practitioners in South Africa could be used by the ICFP that would provide a governance structure for the ICFP. Originality/value The originality of this paper lies in setting out of an account of forensic accounting processes and best practices nationally and internationally. The missing knowledge is that no such research is known to have been conducted in South Africa. Currently, to the authors’ knowledge, no formalised investigation process exists. The contribution of the study is that by using an investigation process, it may enhance the quality of forensic investigations and contribute to the successful investigation and prosecution of commercial crime in South Africa that will be beneficial to all stakeholders.

scholarly journals Quality of recovery after total hip and knee arthroplasty in South Africa: a national prospective observational cohort study

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulla Plenge ◽  
Romy Parker ◽  
Shamiela Davids ◽  
Gareth L. Davies ◽  
Zahnne Fullerton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Knee Arthroplasty ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Morbidly Obese ◽  
Total Hip ◽  
Quality Of Recovery ◽  
Hip And Knee Arthroplasty

Abstract Background Encouraged by the widespread adoption of enhanced recovery protocols (ERPs) for elective total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA) in high-income countries, our nationwide multidisciplinary research group first performed a Delphi study to establish the framework for a unified ERP for THA/TKA in South Africa. The objectives of this second phase of changing practice were to document quality of patient recovery, record patient characteristics and audit standard perioperative practice. Methods From May to December 2018, nine South African public hospitals conducted a 10-week prospective observational study of patients undergoing THA/TKA. The primary outcome was ‘days alive and at home up to 30 days after surgery’ (DAH30) as a patient-centred measure of quality of recovery incorporating early death, hospital length of stay (LOS), discharge destination and readmission during the first 30 days after surgery. Preoperative patient characteristics and perioperative care were documented to audit practice. Results Twenty-one (10.1%) out of 207 enrolled patients had their surgery cancelled or postponed resulting in 186 study patients. No fatalities were recorded, median LOS was 4 (inter-quartile-range (IQR), 3–5) days and 30-day readmission rate was 3.8%, leading to a median DAH30 of 26 (25–27) days. Forty patients (21.5%) had pre-existing anaemia and 24 (12.9%) were morbidly obese. In the preoperative period, standard care involved assessment in an optimisation clinic, multidisciplinary education and full-body antiseptic wash for 67 (36.2%), 74 (40.0%) and 55 (30.1%) patients, respectively. On the first postoperative day, out-of-bed mobilisation was achieved by 69 (38.1%) patients while multimodal analgesic regimens (paracetamol and Non-Steroid-Anti-Inflammatory-Drugs) were administered to 29 patients (16.0%). Conclusion Quality of recovery measured by a median DAH30 of 26 days justifies performance of THA/TKA in South African public hospitals. That said, perioperative practice, including optimisation of modifiable risk factors, lacked standardisation suggesting that quality of patient care and postoperative recovery may improve with implementation of ERP principles. Notwithstanding the limited resources available, we anticipate that a change of practice for THA/TKA is feasible if ‘buy-in’ from the involved multidisciplinary units is obtained in the next phase of our nationwide ERP initiative. Trial registration The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03540667).

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