Views of board members on management of schools: A case study of Caprivi educational region of Namibia

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Date
2014
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Abstract
The purpose of the study was to examine views of Board members on management of schools in the Caprivi Educational Region of Namibia. Through the provision of the Education Act of 2001, there was an establishment of School Boards comprising of parents, teachers and learners. The rationale for the establishment of School Boards was to address the inequalities and practices that occurred in the past. Previously parents, teachers and learners did not participate in school-based decision-making processes. The qualitative research method was utilised and data was obtained by means of in-depth interviews on selected School Board members to gain a comprehensive understanding of views of Board members regarding their roles and challenges in school governance. Interviews were supported by minutes of Board meetings and relevant school policy documents. A semi-structured interview was utilised to establish themes that appear in the discussions of roles and challenges regarding school governors. The emerging themes included knowledge and understanding of School Board roles; challenges faced by Board members in school governance and suggested improvements (mitigations) of school governors in response to challenges. Data obtained was analysed based on purposive sample of 8 Board members from two combined schools in the Caprivi Educational region. The findings suggested that problems still exist on lack of knowledge and understanding of the Education Act. Other negative factors include: poor education of parent governors, poverty, lack of resources in rural communities, lack of capacity building and lack of understanding between governance and management of schools.
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters in Education.
Keywords
Management of schools
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