CONFLICT MANAGEMENT, HEADS AND SCHOOLS’ DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES: IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT

Authors: Makombe Patrick & Mangwiro Temba

ABSTRACT

The study was motivated by conflicts between school heads and their School Development Committees. Such conflicts affected learners’ quality of education contrary to the purpose of their (SDCs) creation. Since the purpose of such a study is to improve practice, the study was guided by the pragmatism research philosophy. Pragmatism facilitated the collection of data using methods contingent with the variable being captured. Mixing qualitative and quantitative methods enhanced the validity and reliability of the study findings. The population of the study was composed of teachers and parents who propose and activate school development policies. Data was gathered from a purposive sample of 57 teachers and 93 parents from Nyanga district. Such a sample is statistically large enough for the variables to be normally distributed and findings generalised for similar school environments. Data was captured from a sequence of document analysis, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Questionnaires were used to provide a record of conflicts and their solutions. The study found that: the major source of conflict was perceived and real financial misappropriation. This was followed on the rank by learners’ low academic performance. School Development Committee members’ lack of trust in the School Heads was linked to, School Heads’ dominance in decision-making. Party-politics safeguarded conflict environment within the school. The study recommends the training of SDC members and their terms can be a maximum of five years rather than one. There is need for an increased communication between the school and its SDCs. A team-oriented approach can be inculcated for SDCs to co-own their schools. Regular consultative meetings can be used to enhance the teaching and resources for the schools. School Heads and their SDCs can use the party political influences for the infrastructure development. For example, the local MP can be influenced to source funds for a block of classrooms which can be named after him/her.

Keywords: Conflict, School management, school head, school development committee

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