The purpose of this study was to find out how decentralization of the education system influenced the autonomy of the heads of public secondary schools. Quantitative research approach was adopted with a questionnaire survey design. Questionnaires with closed-ended and open-ended questions were administered to the heads of the government owned secondary schools. It was found that: the autonomy of the heads of secondary schools before decentralization was higher than their autonomy after decentralization; the political influences and the higher authorities’ professional interventions affected the autonomy of the heads of the devolved secondary schools in decision making with high magnitudes; the political influences had the relative negative effect while the professional interventions had the relative positive effects; and decentralization of the education system imposed more negative improvement than positive improvement on the autonomy of the heads of the devolved secondary schools in decision making. The heads of the schools suggested for: the government to grant them more power and respect in decision making; close monitoring of schools in decision making by education stakeholders in a meaningful way; and making clear legal limits of the obligational responsibilities of the school management. The study recommends that the heads of schools should be granted more powers to run the schools through clear lines of responsibilities, than the prevalent situation. Furthermore, it is important to establish best decision making approaches in secondary schools.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Literature review
- Theoretical review
- Empirical review
- Methodology
- Results and Discussion
- How politicians and higher authorities' professionals affect the autonomy of heads of devolved secondary schools in decision making
- How secondary schools heads' autonomy in decision making has changed since 2009
- How to improve secondary school heads' autonomy in school decision making
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This research paper explores the impact of decentralization on the autonomy of heads of devolved secondary schools in decision-making. It investigates how political influences and professional interventions from higher authorities affect the autonomy of school heads. The study also examines how decentralization has changed the autonomy of school heads since 2009 and identifies ways to improve their autonomy in decision-making processes.
- The impact of decentralization on the autonomy of school heads
- The influence of political and professional interventions on decision-making
- Changes in school heads' autonomy since 2009
- Strategies for improving school heads' autonomy in decision-making
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction of this research paper sets out the purpose of the study, which is to examine the influence of decentralization on the autonomy of secondary school heads in decision-making. It highlights the need for research due to concerns about political and professional interventions in school management, particularly regarding students and school development programmes.
The literature review section provides a theoretical framework for the study, drawing on three prominent decision-making models: the rational comprehensive model, the incremental decision model, and the mixed-scanning model. The theoretical review critically examines the assumptions and limitations of each model and analyzes their implications for understanding decision-making processes in education.
The empirical review section delves into the concept of decentralization in education, outlining its different forms and drivers. It discusses the three main styles of decentralization: deconcentration, devolution, and delegation, with examples from various countries.
The methodology chapter describes the research design, including the quantitative approach, survey design, and data collection methods. It outlines the validity and reliability testing procedures used to ensure the quality of the data collected.
The results and discussion section presents the findings of the study. It examines how politicians and higher authorities' professionals affect the autonomy of school heads in decision-making, analyzes the changes in school heads' autonomy since 2009, and explores strategies for improving their autonomy in decision-making processes.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This research paper focuses on the key concepts of education service decentralization, decision making, school heads' autonomy, and autonomy improvement. It examines the influence of political and professional interventions on decision-making in devolved secondary schools and investigates the effects of decentralization on the autonomy of school heads.
- Quote paper
- Reuben Bihu (Author), 2014, Decentralization and the Autonomy of Heads of Devolved Secondary Schools in Tanzania. A Case Study, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/932759
