Maak die gevorderde onderwyssertifikaat 'n verskil aan die bestuursvermoens van skoolhoofde? : 'n vergelykende studie van vier skoolhoofde

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In South Africa no formal training in school leadership or school management is currently required to procure a position as school principal. The sole condition is that a candidate should possess a professional teaching qualification, with some years' experience in the teaching profession. School principals cannot be blamed if they comply with no more than these basic requirements, as no formal qualification for school principals had existed prior to 2007. The Department of Education answered to the need for formal training to equip principals for meeting their responsibilities by introducing the Advanced Certificate in Education: School Leadership and Management (ACE). This study explores to what extent school principals experienced an improvement in their managerial skills after obtaining the ACE qualification.To offer a better understanding of the background of South African school principals, the history of the available training over the past forty years is outlined. This is supplemented by an overview of various countries' approach to preparing principals for 21st century schools. The responsibilities of present day principals differ dramatically from those of twenty years ago, as policy documents such as the South African Schools Act has since 1996 required that the principal, together with the school governing body, take responsibility for the management of the school. Accordingly, this study includes an enquiry into the ACE qualification with regard to the curriculum content, the purpose of the course and how assessment takes place at higher education institutions where this course is offered.Interviews were conducted with two principals who had obtained the ACE qualification to gain insight into their experiences relating to the qualification. By means of comparison, two principals who had not completed the qualification were also interviewed to establish to what extent this qualification does in fact equip principals for their daily responsibilities. The possible effects of the qualification were highlighted by comparing the two pairs of principals who function in similar communities with corresponding problems. By presenting this research as a case study, it was possible to obtain in-depth information and varied opinions about principal training, where principals had acquired the most useful skills and what could be added to enhance the value of the ACE qualification.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University