Abstract
Abstract : This study focused on the concept of distributed instructional leadership (DIL) to investigate the social distribution of instructional leadership (IL) among the School Management Team members in a public secondary school. Furthermore, this research sought to determine the tools used by the SMT in enacting DIL. DIL is viewed as the distribution of instructional leadership functions enacted by the SMT as they go about defining the school mission, managing the instructional programme and promoting a positive school learning climate. The study was framed with a social constructivist paradigm using a qualitative research design. A case study approach was employed, the case being one public secondary school with good academic results in the national Grade 12 examination. Purposive sampling was used, and the sample comprised the principal, deputy principal and three HODs who make up the SMT members in the school. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews and document analysis. The findings indicated that instructional leadership was widely distributed among all the SMT members in all three domains namely, defining the school mission, managing the instructional programme and promoting a positive school learning climate. Notably, the SMT played a strong role in curriculum delivery and promoted a positive learning climate. Interestingly, the distribution of the IL role was extended to subject heads who assisted HODs in their IL monitoring and supervisory roles. Various tools were used by all SMT members to enhance effective IL. The tools comprised mainly policies and committees. Some challenges encountered by SMT members in their IL role were high workloads, excessive paperwork, inadequate IL skills, insufficient parental involvement, poor learner discipline and insufficient cooperation on the part of subject heads. It is recommended that SMTs are trained in IL as they require clarity on their specific roles. Furthermore, the position of ‘subject head’ needs to be considered as an official post for which the subject head is remunerated.
M.Ed. (Educational Leadership and Management)