Resumen

DU PLESSIS, Grizelda  y  MENTZ, Kobus. Preparing heads of department in secondary schools for their role as effective educational leaders. Tydskr. geesteswet. [online]. 2024, vol.64, n.2, pp.178-197. ISSN 2224-7912.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2224-7912/2024/v64n2a3.

It is human nature to see the world as imperfect, because people strive towards improving existing and designing new systems. The education system is one such system which is regarded as being a challenge in South Africa, since it affects the quality of education received by every young South African. The serious nature of dysfunctionality could be attributed to the lack of competent leadership in schools. Learners' education and examination results are being impaired by inadequate teaching, dysfunctional school management, inefficient procedures and poor resources, which foster low educational standards. Leadership practices make a significant contribution to the desired outcomes of a school. Department heads are responsible for educational leadership; however, as they rarely receive leadership training, it is impossible for them to acquire the knowledge and skills to prepare them for their task as educational leaders. There is a dire need for educational leaders who could run a school professionally. The principal and staff should be professional leaders and managers capable of establishing a culture of learning and effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to establish if department heads have the required knowledge and skills to prepare them for their leadership and management role in a secondary school, how they see their competence in this regard, to identify the gaps regarding their preparation as effective educational leaders, and to submit proposals for improving the preparation of department heads for their leadership role. The research methodology was based on quantitative research strategies whereby the research question could accordingly be answered by means of a once-off cross-sectional survey obtained from a random cluster sampling of secondary schools in a district with approximately 70 schools in the Free State province. Self-designed questionnaires, which had to be completed by all the department heads at the schools, were used. A total of 186 department heads participated in the investigation. Ethical approval to conduct the research was obtained from the North-West University. Descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis were used to identify latent variables. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to determine the reliability of the variables involved. Hierarchical linear models were used to determine relationships among variables. The results showed that the heads of department view training and development as important, but they also indicated that they did not receive management training before their appointment in their position. Finally, suggestions are provided for improving the preparation of department heads.

Palabras clave : Leadership; management; educational leadership; preparation; department heads (middle-level managers); training; development; learner performance; effectiveness.

        · resumen en Africano     · texto en Africano     · Africano ( pdf )