Abstract
M.Ed. (Educational Psychology)
Leadership in the primary as well as in the secondary schools has for too long been misinterpreted, misunderstood and therefore misused and grossly underscored in far too many ways. It has been too often, and in too many cases, based on personal interpretation and feeling and even, sadly enough, in some cases on personal gain. Instead it should be a well planned, scientifically based exercise based on specific
goals. Present day demands require a specific form of education and training in leadership at school level to enable our youth to cope with these requirements. Educational authorities especially school authorities - are therefore compelled to
address the matter of training, identification and utilization of leaders in a new light. Leadership development should also therefore be part and parcel of the educational
programme. A new structure in most schools - especially in primary schools -is of the utmost importance where leadership is concerned. Leaders should be trained and exercised in such a way that leadership potential can be nurtured and exploited to the utmost. The skills attained in primary school should also form the crux of the leadership program in high school in order to accommodate the important concept of continuity. An integrated program for leadership development for primary, as, well as for secondary schools in this regard, could possibly be a part of the answer. Although schools have the authority to create their own structures of leadership according to their own unique circumstances it still is of the utmost importance that as many pupils as possible - if not all - should be involved in a long term leadership training program. Thus it will ensure that pupil leaders are trained continuously and that high profile leaders are given the attention and opportunities they need and deserve. A school can, in order to obtain optimal participation, make use of various bodies assigned to
specific tasks to encompass the total school structure. These bodies can also be united in a student council. In this way acknowledgement is given to the fact that some people are more person (socially) orientated and others more task (job) orientated.
Both the above mentioned concepts, imply leadership but each of these ccommodates its own sphere of possibilities concerning leadership. On the one hand it acknowledges the fact that not all children have the same talents and personalities. On the other hand it emphasizes the fact that some children have an advantage over other children (at the time leaders are selected) due to various factors such as maturity, personality development and specific talents to name but a few. It is also frequently found that some children who have not reflected any leadership qualities in primary school proved to be quite exceptional leaders in the community in later life. The opposite however is also found although not that often.