Abstract
D.Ed. (Education Management)
This research departs from the premise that within the school, the principal as a
professional leader, is vested with some kind of authority which he' exercises in order
to ensure effective and efficient management of his school. He is the central
authoritative body and the pivot on which management powers and their delegation "
hinge. He derives this apparent authoritative legal status from his position as a
principal and professional leader ofa school (Bray, 1988:44).
Placed in this situation, the principal is called upon to utilize a wide range of
competencies in carrying out his job and delegation is one of the most important
management techniques he must rely on, if he wants to be successful. However,
delegation of authority does require consideration of some legal implications such as
the legal limitation that certain tasks delegated by law cannot be further delegated.
Schools, like other organizations, are legally established organizations set up to serve
specific functions, and like all organizations, they need to be administered and properly
managed. Invariably, within the school final authority over most aspects of schooling
rests with the school principal. Engelking (in Hostrop,1990:200) argues that "the
principal of a successful high school is an initiator, one who displays creativity and
vision in decision-making, one who is able to delegate responsibility as appropriate and
analyzes information relative to school problems"...