ERIC Number: EJ1346705
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 27
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-1710-2146
Challenges Encountered by Teaching Principals in Rural Multigrade Primary Schools: A South African Perspective
Taole, Matshidiso
International Journal of Whole Schooling, v18 n2 p1-27 2022
This study reports on the challenges facing multigrade principals. Principals are regarded as curriculum leaders and have critical roles to play in the success of the school. However, school principals experience a myriad of complex challenges in the execution of their roles and responsibilities. The purpose of this qualitative study was to outline the findings from a small-scale, exploratory study. Five multigrade school principals participated in the analysis. Using an interpretative qualitative research approach, a multiple case study of five multigrade teaching principals was employed. Four or more years of teaching and leadership experience in multigrade schools were used as the criteria for inclusion in the study. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data and thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The findings showed that multigrade principals have workload issues and lack of professional development in leadership in multigrade contexts as some of the challenges facing them. In addition, participants cited managing the interface between work and home as another worrisome issue in their roles as principals. This study recommends that multigrade principals need to be capacitated so that they have the necessary competencies and skills to function effectively in their multigrade context. To enhance effective practices and policies in rural multigrade schools, policymakers need to comprehend the unique challenges that multigrade teaching principals face and radically rethink the principals' preparation programs to include multigrade teaching principals.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Principals, Barriers, Rural Schools, Elementary Schools, Administrator Responsibility, Professional Development, Leadership Training, Family Work Relationship, Mixed Age Grouping
Whole Schooling Consortium. Available from: Concordia University College of Alberta. 7128 Ada Boulevard, Edmonton, AB T5B 4E4, Canada. e-mail: wholeschooling@twmi.rr.com; Web site: http://www.wholeschooling.net
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: South Africa
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A