IQMS IMPLEMENTATION: A MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS IN KLEIN LETABA CIRCUIT
Date
2011-11-14
Authors
Thomas, Makhuvele Sevha
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Abstract
In South Africa, there has been a lack of a proper tool to evaluate the performance of
educators attached to public schools and this has compromised the provision of quality
public education to all citizens of the country. The evaluation systems that existed were
perceived as negatively-focused, backward-looking, judgemental, subjective and unreliable.
The introduction of Integrated Quality Management System (IQMS) signalled a new
approach to the evaluation of the performance of both educators and schools. This new
approach, therefore, represents an opportunity for the Department of Education to change
from the negatively conceived system to a positive one that will transform the education
system.
The introduction of the IQMS in South African public schools has however added a new task
that has to be executed by school principals. Principals are expected to manage the
implementation of IQMS as well as to play a leading role in the process. The idea behind the
introduction of IQMS was to evaluate the performance of both the schools and educators in
order to come with ways that will improve the provision of quality education in public
schools. Before the outcomes of the new system could be realised, it became apparent that
principals of public primary schools have been faced with challenges that makes it difficult
for them to effectively implement the system.
The purpose of this research is to identify and investigate management and leadership
challenges facing primary school principals in the implementation of IQMS and to
recommend how principals can be assisted in order to effectively deal with these
challenges.
Description
MM thesis - P&DM
Keywords
Head teachers, School principals, Leadership