Abstract
Educational Management
South Africa is faced with educational transformation that is embedded in the current
education policy. For this transformation to succeed, teachers, principals and those in the
higher hierarchy in the Department of Education, will have to work together towards
attaining the goals of Education.
Teams are powerful learning entities than individuals seeking to learn on their own.
Teams provide an environment which learning can be articulated, tested refined and
examined against the needs of the organisation and within the context of the learning of
others. To be effective, team based learning activity needs to be based upon the needs
of the team, the needs of the individuals within the team and the needs of the
organisation. By articulating these three sets of needs within the team, real progress and
development will take place within an organisation.
The principal should provide the staff with a forum where there is an interchange of
information and the strengthening of relationships and the improvement of the school
climate. Specific roles that relate to a specific task need to be clarified as well as those
that relate to the team.
Principals should realise that the role they play in a school is significant. Despite this
significant role, they can never be solely responsible for the management of the school.
To achieve excellence collective effort is needed.
Involvement of team members in decision making will help in achieving the organisation's
mission as well as the goals. This will result in the taking up of the school's ownership by
all team members. Accountability will therefore be owned by all team members not only
the principal.
Team building can lead an organisation to success because it involves communication,
effective coordination and division of labour. This will result in effective school
management.