A CASE STUDY EXPLORING PERCEIVED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTNEEDS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS IN PAKISTAN

[摘要] Research suggest that just like the rise and fall of nation states and organizations depends on the capabilities of leadership, likewise the success and failure of schools is largely contingent upon the effectiveness of school leadership. Because of its importance, school leadership has long been the focus of Western research, but such a focus in the context of developing countries in general, and Pakistan in particular, is not very extensive. This is the reason the phenomenon of leadership and their capacity buildings have not received enough attention in the educational landscape of Pakistan. Therefore, the study which was conducted in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan intended to explore what secondary school administrators in Pakistan need in order to improve their performance. A constructivist paradigm was adopted by the application of the case study method. A convenience sampling approach was used to identify two government and two private schools. Besides four school administrators and eight teachers, the perspectives of two educational officials each from private and government sectors were also incorporated in this study. This research was conducted in a time period when the processes of educational development within the country were hampered as a result of terrorist activities followed by a government backed military offensive against the radical elements.The study explored administrative, educational, and the human resource management skills of four school leaders located in two systems. The study revealed that as compared to government school leaders, private leaders had a better understanding about their role as a manager and as a leader. This clarity of roles led them to become more focused on the instructional development through administrative measures. On the other hand, administrators in government schools were more focused on less productive tasks which in turn distanced them from their instructional responsibilities. In order to address this issue the study made a number of recommendations ranging from selection of school administrators to the provision of particular administrative, educational, and social skills to the school leaders. To achieve this objective, the study suggests a holistic approach through the involvement of multiple stakeholders and the application of numerous strategies.

[发布机构] the University of Pittsburgh

[效力级别] Pakistan