Bridging the chasm between two worlds: identifying perceived challenges in a sample of graduate educational-leadership students

Abstract

Eighty-three educators attending a Masters’ programme in school leadership discussed their responses as they compared models learned in class with the organisational reality they experience at work. Content analysis, conducted by two independent coders revealed a sense of crisis. The majority reported experiencing frustration and anger both with the school system that is perceived as anachronistic and unsupportive of change and the study programme seemingly teaching models and ideas that are irrelevant in the reality they experience. A considerable minority reported being positively challenged to promote change. A smaller minority reported feeling the system is already going in the direction pointed out by modern models and theories. The results are discussed in light of global evidence on the issue and recommendations for future policy and educational design are offered.