Abstract
The purpose of this research is to investigate the extent to which moral leadership influences learner attainment. International assessment tests that have been conducted on learners have indicated huge disparities in learner achievement within the South African context. According to Taylor (2009: 9) the third International Mathematics and Science Study Repeat (TIMMS-R: 2002), the 2003 Monitoring Learner Achievement (MTL) study and the regional Southern African Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality (SACMEQ: 2007) shows that South Africa produces low levels of learner attainment. The results of these studies are cause for concern despite the national expenditure on education in South Africa. The challenges facing a relatively new political dispensation, has placed renewed emphasis on policy reform that aims to address non-performance and poor quality schooling. The researcher views school management teams (SMTs) as a critical role player in progressively bridging the social disparities of the past by ensuring that all learners are provided with equal opportunities to succeed. It is argued that social phenomena are value driven and therefore it becomes increasingly necessary to explore the moral dimensions of school leadership and the role it plays in contributing to improved learner attainment.
In South Africa the educational reform process has been immense and has intended to be a vehicle to promote democracy and social justice in an attempt to reshape society and to promote economic sustainability. The education system, like anywhere else in the world, has been confronted with a myriad of educational and political challenges. While reform efforts have received high priority in South Africa, the performance of learners has not witnessed high levels of attainment when compared with national and inter-national assessments. Where good results have been championed, the integrity of the education system has been challenged. This research focuses on school management teams (SMTs) as a vehicle to promote learner attainment....
D.Phil. (Education Leadership and Management)