Human resource management as a tool for school effectiveness

[摘要] The change from apartheid to post-apartheid society in South Africa has far reachingresults for the country in general and education in particular. This places greatchallenges to educational managers in schools, particularly in in-effective schools andthe transformation of such schools. A challenge to principals, deputy principals andheads of departments is to become catalysts of change and to promotedemocratization of management in schools. They need to develop educators, as keyorganizational assets, in their schools and to promote co-operation in themanagement and transformation of especially in-effective schools.The aim of the study was to show how an insightful and holistic application of humanresource management and development, as a sub-discipline of school management,has the potential to make dramatic, meaningful and practical contributions to therehabilitation of in-effective schools by identifying the successful structuralcomponents of effective schools, and then applying these to ineffective schools. Themethodology used comprised identifying the causes of school in-effectiveness inspecific schools in the Odendaalsrus District, and then indicating how these problemareas could be resuscitated by applying similar structures which were workingsuccessfully in effective schools to these in- effective schools.The role of the principal as a human resource practitioner was investigated, whilesuggestions were given as to how the principal could improve the effective running ofthe school by:�?Improving his or her knowledge and skills of human resource management byfurther self study, as well as using successful programmes used by other schools.�?A participatory management style, where all staff members contribute to the aimsand objectives of the school.�?Introducing in-service training programmes, workshops and seminars for staffmembers.�?Encouraging and promoting further study among staff members.

[发布机构] University of the Free State