Emerging Challenges of Educational Leadership and Management in Zimbabwe: A Survey of Schools in Masvingo Urban

Abstract

The study sought to establish emerging challenges of educational leadership and management in Masvingo urban schools, Zimbabwe. It was prompted by the fact that the education system was still reeling from the effects of the economic crisis of the decade ending 2008 with no solution in sight as public examination results remained very low, six years down the line. Quality leadership was perceived to be part of the solution. Bush (2003) supported this position when he pointed out that the quality of headship matters in determining the motivation of teachers and the quality of teaching which takes place in classrooms. Hargreaves (2003) however hinted that many members of the teaching force, trans-nationally were deeply unhappy about their work and what they were being asked to do. Bottery (2004) thus said that, an educational leaders current lot is not necessarily a happy one. The dynamic nature of the environment in which School Heads found themselves and information from public media made the researchers to perceive a prima-facie case for a study of this nature. A survey research method was used to collect data. The population consisted of twenty two School Heads from which a sample of ten was extracted through a stratified random sampling technique. The study revealed that School Heads were a demoralized, depressed and stressed lot who wondered what wrong they had done to deserve the challenges they faced as they carried out their leadership and management roles. Participants described the current lot of School Heads as the most hearted, most abused and demonized of the civil servants. It was also felt that, it was impossible to work as a School Head in the current labor environment and still be happy. Whilst teachers were doing all they could to revive the education system, it was felt that Ministry was pouring water on the burning fire through policy inconsistencies and policy misapplications and its adoption of theory X assumptions, when dealing with the members of the teaching profession. Cases of School Heads hospitalized and others dying of job related mental and physical health problems were reported. The system was seen not to recognize talent and reward performance. Training needs were also identified as Heads were appointed on the basis of the sink or swimprinciple (Makura; 2010). On the basis of the findings as summarized above, it is recommended that policy makers in general and the Ministry in particular, attend to the challenges unearthed here as a matter of urgency if the country is to regain its pole position on the literacy radar.