The advent of school based management in the 21st century
List of Authors
  • Mollootimile, Bashimane , Zengele, Thulani

Keyword
  • Education stakeholders, School-Based-Management, democracy, teamwork, bureaucracy

Abstract
  • The 21st century has witnessed management reforms in South Africa in the form of School Based-Management. School-Based-Management has become a widely preferred management style in schools because of the belief that it gives rise to increased production at school level. While the need for effective School-Based-Management is supported, there is much less certainty of what role and responsibility each and every stakeholder needs to play that is likely to yield the desired outcomes. Through this empirical but discussion paper in essence, we explore the nature and the rationale behind School Based Management. The views and the different roles and responsibilities of every stakeholder as well as the intervention strategies implemented by the department of education are explored. One on one interviews were conducted with purposefully selected 9 participants from three schools. The results show that the majority of stakeholders have held a positive assumption about School Based Management as the means towards transforming the management style in schools from bureaucratic to active participants in major decision making processes as required by School Based-Management that aims at ensuring effective teaching and learning at school level.

Reference
  • 1. Ary, D., Jocobs, L.C., Razavieh, A. and Sorensen, C, (2006) Introduction Research in Education (7th Ed). Canada:Thomson Wadsworth.
    2. Botha, J.R. 2006. Effective School Based Management: The critical Role of Management and Governance. South African Journal of Education, 26: 1-18.
    3. Briggs, K. and Wohlstetter, P. 2003. Key elements of a successful School Based Management strategy. School Effectiveness and School Improvement 14 (3): 351 – 372.
    4. Bush, T. (2008) Leadership and Management Development in Education. London: SAGE.
    5. Bush, T. and Gamage, D. 2001. Models of Self-governance in Schools: Australia and United Kingdom. International Journal of Education Management, 15 (1): 39-44.
    6. Caldwell, J.B. (2005b) School Based Management: Educational Policy Series. The International Academy of Education and International Institute for Educational Planning Publishers. London.
    7. Cheng, Y.C. and Mok, M.M.C. 2007. School-Based Management and Paradigm shift in Education: An Empirical Study. International Journal of Educational Management, 21 (6): 517 – 542.
    8. Cresswell, J.W. (2007) Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
    9. De Grauwe, A. 2005. Learning the Quality of Education through School-Based Management: Learning from International Experiences, Review of Education, 51:269 – 287.
    10. Dempter, N. 2000. Guilty or Not: The Impact and Effects of Site-Based Management on Schools, Journal of Educational Administration, 38:47 – 63.
    11. Department of Education. 1996. Changing Management to Manage Change in Education, Report of the Task Team on Education Management Development Pretoria. Government Printers.
    12. Department of Education. 2007. Advanced Certificate in Education: School Leadership: Programme Overview. Pretoria, Government Printers.
    13. Fullan, M. and Watson, N. (2000) School-Based-Management: Reconceptualizing to Improve Learning Outcome. Falmer Press: 11 (4): 253 – 473.
    14. Gammage, D. T. 2008. Three Decades of Implementation of School Based Management in Australian Capital Territory and Victoria in Australia 22 (7): 664 – 673.
    15. Grogan, M. and Andrews, A. 2002. Defining Preparation and Professional Development for the future. Educational Administration Quarterly, 38(2): 233-256.
    16. Hammersley-Fletcher. L. and Brundrett, M. 2005. Leaders on Leadership: The Impressions of Primary School Head Teachers and Subject Leaders. School Leadership and Management, 25(1): 59-75.
    17. Kruger, A.G. 2003. Instructional Leadership: The Impact on the Culture of Teaching and Learning in Two Effective Secondary Schools. South African Journal of Education, 23 (3): 206-211.
    18. Li, J. (2010) Suggestions for the Implementation of School-Based Management. jinli@hncj.edu.cn/pdf Accessed 24 March 2011.
    19. Mabasa, T. and Themane, J. 2002. Stakeholder participation in School Governance in South Africa. Perspectives in Education 20 (3): 111-116.
    20. Middlewood, A. and Lumby, J. (2007) Strategic Management in Schools and Colleges.Paul Chapman Publishing: London.
    21. Mncube, V. 2009. The Perception of Parents of their Role in the Democratic Governance of School in South Africa: Are they on Board? South African Journal of Education. EASA, 29: 83-103.
    22. Moloi, K. 2007. An overview of Educational Management in South Africa. South African Journal of Education. 27(3), 463-476.
    23. Ng, P.T. and Chan, D. 2008. A comprehensive study of Singapore‟s School excellent model with Hong Kong‟s School-Based-Management. International Journal of Educational Management, 22 (6): 488-505.
    24. Sayed, Y. 2002. Democratising Education in a Decentralized System: South African Policy and Practice. Compare, 32(1): 35-45.
    25. Scribner, J. P., Swayer, R. K., Watson, S.T. and Myers, V. L. 2007. Teacher Teams and Distributed Leadership: A Study of Group Discourse and Collaboration. Educational Administration Quarterly. 45 (1): 67 – 100. Republic of South Africa (RSA) (1996a). South African School Act 84 of 1996. Pretoria: Government Printers.
    26. Vibe RSA. Republic of South Africa (RSA) (1998b) Employment of Educators Act 76 of 1998. Pretoria: Government Printers.
    27. Vibe RSA. Van Niekerk, E. J. and Van Niekerk, P. 2006. Strategic Management in South African Education: The Leadership Dimension. African Education Review 3(1+2): 84-99.
    28. Whitake, R. K. 2003. Principal Role Changes and Influence on Principal Recruitment and Selection: An International Perspective. Journal of Educational Administration, Vol 41- Issue 1, pp.37 – 54.
    29. World Bank (2007) What is School Based Management? Education Human Development Network. Washington, DC.