School governing bodies : their significance in the democratic transformation of South African society

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:This thesis seeks to demonstrate the potential of schoolgoverning bodies to further the process of democratising SouthAfrican society.Among the main features of the democratisation of South Africaneducation, is the decentralisation of educational governance.In this process the decision-making authority has been devolvedfrom central government to the local school level, thuspreparing school communities for self-government and autonomy.The establishment of school governing bodies at all publicschools in the country brings South Africa in line with currentinternational trends for democratic local communityparticipation and control in education. When this aspect of theeducation systems of three countries, the United States ofAmerica, England and Australia, are compared with SouthAfrica's, it shows the extent of the latter's democratisation ofeducational governance.The background to local community participation in South Africaneducation according to various pieces of legislation passed,their failure to reform education, and other aspects which ledto the promulgation of the Schools Act (1996), places schoolgoverning bodies in South Africa in proper historical context.An examination of the Schools Act reveals its democratic natureand identifies those aspects of school governing bodies whichhave the potential of furthering the democratisation process.The challenges that the changes in school governance bring withthem are analysed to highlight their implications andsignificance for school governing bodies.School governing bodies offer new and exciting opportunities forenterprising and enthusiastic communities. School governorsshould, therefore, be urged to seize the opportunity toparticipate in school governance and in this way play their rolein furthering the democratic transformation of South Africansociety.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University