Abstract
This study investigated the state of principal wellness in South African public schools. Threats to principal wellness, how they cope with stress and the factors that promote their wellness were explored. Located within an interpretive paradigm, a generic qualitative design was used to execute this research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight principals across public primary and secondary schools. The findings from the research study resulted in four themes. The first theme was ‘causes of principal stress’ and identified principal accountability, the school governing body’s ineffectiveness, inadequate principal authority, and the Covid-19 pandemic as the main reasons for principal stress. The second theme was ‘the repercussions of principal stress’, which found that stress resulted in a lack of sleep, forgetfulness, and inadequate family time. The third theme highlighted ‘coping strategies used by principals’, namely religion, collaboration with peers, and management of their emotions. The fourth theme pointed out various ‘strategies to promote and develop principal wellness’ such as delegating responsibility, support from the DoE, principal mentorship and wellness programmes. Establishing wellness support groups and wellness programmes that include aspects of resilience and coping mechanisms for stress, are recommendations arising from the study. Furthermore, a wellness policy or guidelines could be considered by the Department of Basic Education as well as providing greater autonomy to principals in managing schools. Keywords: Principal wellness, principal stress, resilience, coping mechanisms, mental health.
M.Ed. (Educational Leadership and Management)