The Principals’ Management Challenges Associated with Covid-19 Pandemic Management Guidelines in the Mkhuhlu Circuit, South Africa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63236/ijmar.1.2.1Keywords:
Management practices, policy implementation, principalsAbstract
The COVID-19 pandemic spread swiftly across nations, impacting every sector, including education. This extraordinary pandemic led to significant changes in the delivery of basic education. This research aimed to investigate the management challenges faced by principals in rural secondary schools within the Mkhuhlu circuit of Mpumalanga, South Africa, in relation to pandemic management. This study employed a mixed-methods research approach, specifically an exploratory sequential design, in which qualitative data collection and analysis guided the following quantitative phase. The qualitative phase utilised planned sampling, while the quantitative phase implemented simple random selection. The quantitative data were processed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), and thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative information and enhance the findings from the quantitative phase. The results revealed that during the COVID-19 lockdown, both the teaching and learning processes, as well as the responsibilities of school leaders, underwent considerable changes, resulting in a shift towards remote learning. The findings underscored the crucial role of principals in formulating strategies to tackle the challenges arising from the pandemic. Grounded in Systems Theory, the study illustrated the interconnectedness of various components of school management and the importance of adaptive leadership during emergencies. The research suggested that schools might benefit from a certain degree of decentralisation, granting principals more authority over daily operations. This additional autonomy would allow principals to focus on teaching and improve their management of future crises. The implications of these findings suggest that enhancing training, resource allocation, and support systems is crucial for strengthening the resilience and adaptability of school management practices in the face of pandemics.
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