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Leadership and Management Practices Perceived to be Effective in Cypriot Primary Schools - A Qualitative Approach
ANDRONICOU Eleni |
| This dissertation attempts to investigate the leadership and management practices perceived to be effective in Cypriot primary schools. A framework, based on school effectiveness and school improvement literature, on aspects of leadership and management practices that have been claimed to be effective mainly in decentralized systems was adopted. Conducted in Limassol, a city of Cyprus, during summer and autumn of 2003, this piece of study has utilized a semi-structured interview plan to obtain required data from a purposive sample of 25 teachers, deputies and headteachers. Respondents’ perceptions of effective leadership and management practices in primary schools in Cyprus were investigated. There was an attempt to examine whether there is an overlap among practices found to be effective in decentralized systems and practices perceived to be effective in the centralized system of Cyprus. In addition to this, leadership and management practices perceived to be effective, unique to the Cypriot centralized system were also investigated. Finally, perceived factors militating against leadership and management effectiveness in Cyprus were examined. Results of the study indicate that: Leadership and management practices identified to be effective in decentralized systems are generally perceived to be effective in the Cypriot system too. There was no leadership or management practice perceived to be effective, unique in the Cypriot educational system. Respondents perceive a number of factors militating against leadership and management in Cyprus. These factors are mainly related to the centralized character of the system. Heads, deputies and teachers experience different amount of leadership and management responsibility in primary schools in Cyprus. Presentation and discussion of results leads to a number of recommendations that involve preparatory training for heads, courses in leadership and management for deputies and teachers, a restructured head’s role where heads experience more autonomy, a restructured promotion system where qualifications instead of age are taken into consideration, formation of national standards and tests and more. |
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Copyright: CCEAM and authors, October 2006
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