Enhancing the role of female principals as curriculum managers

[摘要] English: The study aims to formulate a strategy to enhance the role of female principals as curriculum managers in eight different schools in the Amajuba District. For this to be achieved, specific objectives were devised to guide the study as follows:�?To understand the need for designing a strategy to enhance the role of female principals as curriculum managers;�?To explore strategies to support female principals in curriculum management;�?To investigate existing strategies to enhance the role of female principals as curriculum managers and the conditions that enable these strategies to work;�?To anticipate the threats to emerging strategies aimed at enhancing the role of female principals, and to formulate risk management systems; and�?To formulate the indicators of success (or lack thereof) in enhancing the role of female principals as curriculum managers.The Critical Feminism Standpoint Theory (CFST), with its agenda of equity and social justice, CFST as a theoretical framework in which the study is couched on to realise the above objectives. To formulate a strategy to enhance the role of female principals as curriculum managers, participatory action research (PAR) was used as it addresses power sharing, emancipatory and working with real challenges to bring about change in the community, I was working with the co-researchers collaboratively, to find solutions to the challenges female principals encounter as curriculum managers. Data were generated through the use of PAR was also analysed using Critical Discourse analysis (CDA). The empirical analysis, interpretation of data and discussion, the findings resulting from interventions were done with CDA. The first part of the study reflections were made through the use of PAR looking at the challenges faced by female principals are the results caused by the absence of a dedicated team with a common vision. The challenges faced by female principal the reality and the experiences of female principals that hinder the implementation of the curriculum management. The second part of the study identifies the components of the solutions as strategies to be used to curb challenges under the supervision of a dedicated team with a vision to enhance the role of female principals as curriculum managers. The solutions predicted by the co-researchers to curtail the challenges were discussed. Numerous findings with regard to challenges coherent with results of the research studies reported in the previous literature review. This research project is distinctive as it involves female principals, management qualities and curriculum studies, in understanding the strategy to be implemented successfully by a dedicated team to create a positive environment for teaching and learning. This study advocates the consideration of female principals having a voice in managing the curriculum and curriculum design. In conclusion the dissertation argues that curriculum management can never be done by an individual but by working as a team having collaborative relationship, where all stakeholders are engaged and able to partake in decision and being involved collectively. The dissertation offers a strategy that can respond to challenges faced by female principals as curriculum managers using collective, cooperation, solidarity, sisterhood and oneness.

[发布机构] University of the Free State