ERIC Number: EJ893270
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Jul
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1363-2434
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
The Extent of Teacher Participation in Decision-Making in Secondary Schools in Zimbabwe
Wadesango, Newman
School Leadership & Management, v30 n3 p265-284 Jul 2010
In Zimbabwe, there have been some debates on democratisation and decentralisation, which led to the development of policies meant to increase teacher participation in decision-making in schools. However, despite these developments, teacher participation in decision-making in Zimbabwean schools is regarded as insignificant. Teachers work closely with students and have firsthand knowledge of their strengths and weaknesses--they are therefore the most valuable people to develop and implement policies. This study investigated the extent of teacher participation in decision-making in Zimbabwean schools. The study adopted a qualitative/interpretive research methodology and used the case study research design as the operational framework for data gathering. Data was collected through interviews, documentary analysis and observation of two staff meetings per school from five secondary schools in Gweru Education District in Zimbabwe. The population sample comprised five secondary school heads and 20 secondary school teachers. The study established that teachers were insignificantly involved in decision-making despite their eagerness to be involved. Some duties are given to senior teachers or committees even when teachers feel that they should be directly involved. There are times when school heads make unilateral decisions and impose them on teachers for implementation. The study recommends that heads of schools should give their teachers room to come up with ideas and look at all contributions objectively. (Contains 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Research Design, Participative Decision Making, Staff Meetings, Qualitative Research, Teacher Participation, School Based Management, Foreign Countries, Secondary School Teachers, Educational Policy, Case Studies, Interviews, Administrator Attitudes, Teacher Attitudes
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Zimbabwe
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A