Reimagining the Role of School Management Teams in Curriculum Delivery in the COVID-19 Pandemic
This chapter explored the role of SMT in curriculum delivery in the midst of the pandemic, the impact of the pandemic on curriculum delivery, and support systems most useful during the coronavirus outbreak. The objectives were examined under the lens of the transformational leadership theory. The study was positioned in the interpretivist paradigm and informed by an exploratory case study design. Fifteen SMT members from six schools were conveniently sampled and interviewed to understand their experiences, perceptions, and expectations of curriculum delivery during the pandemic. The findings largely showed good practices in curriculum management during the pandemic, knowledge of curriculum delivery roles, and expanded support structures. On the other hand, challenges, such as increased absenteeism and weak student accountability resulting from recurring community transmissions, were noted. This chapter, therefore, calls for enhancing the role of SMTs in schools to make them better prepared for and responsive to interconnected global challenges such as this pandemic.