Management and leadership in secondary schools in South Africa

Abstract

This article reports on leadership and management of a school, and how guidance can assist in the transformation process. The study further examines the effects of a principal’s leadership behaviour on the school’s learning culture in KwaZulu-Natal. Leadership is a critical component and needs to be responsive to the period of rapid socio-economic change and technological development. Significant restructuring of the fundamentals of the South African education and training system has been underway. The challenges brought to schools by restructuring have been cited as reasons for advocating transformational leadership in schools. Transformational leadership is well suited to the challenges of current school restructuring. It has the potential for building high levels of commitment to the complex and uncertain nature of the school reform agenda and for fostering growth in the capacities teachers must develop to respond positively to this agenda.