The Leadership Practices of the South African Primary School Principals in Promoting Shared Decision Making

by Shuti Steph Khumalo
University of South Africa, Pretoria, Gauteng, Republic of South Africa.

10.46679/isbn978819484832507

Abstract

Decision-making is a very critical aspect of management in the schooling environment. The purpose of this chapter was to investigate the role of primary school principals in engaging role players (particularly teachers) in decision-making in South Africa. Before the democratic dispensation in South Africa, decision-making was predominantly top down. This means that school leadership and principals in particular, made most decisions on their own and teachers were expected to implement these decisions without asking questions. The current study was conducted in the Waterberg Education Department, which is one of the education districts in South Africa. A descriptive research method was used and one hundred and seventy questionnaires were administered to teachers. The study revealed that the majority of principals do promote shared decision-making. This is demonstrated by the fact that the findings further indicate that principals create opportunities for decision-making, they provide feedback and expect engagement of the feedback and allow the views of stakeholders in the work allocation process.

Keywords: Engagement Opportunities, High Involvement, Job Involvement, Participatory Involvement, Parallel Suggestion, Principals, Leadership, Leadership Processes, Decision Making

This chapter is a part of: Innovations in Educational Leadership and Continuous Teachers’ Professional Development (Eds. Osama Al Mahdi, Ph.D.)

© CSMFL Publications & its authors.

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