Exploring the role of the school management teams in inducting novice educators.
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Date
2022
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the understanding of school management
teams (SMTs) members of their role in inducting novice educators. The study sought
to investigate the role played by SMT in the induction of novice educators, their lived
experiences, perceived challenges and mitigation strategies. Reviewed literature
revealed that due to their liminality and lack of experience, novice educators often
experience challenges in their initial years of teaching. The challenges that novice
educators experience include, inter alia, classroom management, learner discipline,
management of learners’ behaviour, accommodation of diverse learning needs, time
management, conflict with parents, discipline, and motivating learners
This was a qualitative study, located within an interpretive paradigm. The sample for
the study comprised five (5) members of school management teams from two
secondary schools in UThukela District, KwaZulu-Natal. The sample of SMT
members included school principals and Departmental Heads. The key research
questions for the study were investigated through face-to-face semi-structured
interviews, with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols.
The findings of this study revealed that SMT members understood and somewhat
performed their role of inducting novice educators. However, most of the induction
took place informally, due to the limited time that SMT members had. In addition,
SMT members reported that they had not received training or support from the
Department of Education on the induction of novice educators. However, despite the
challenges encountered, SMT reported that they used their knowledge and experience
to ensure that novice educators in their schools were orientated and inducted. For
instance, they used subject and departmental meetings held per term to encourage
collaboration between novice and experienced educators to ensure support and
guidance for novice educators.
The findings point to the resilience of the SMT members in that they did something to
ensure that novice educators were inducted, despite the challenges that they were
facing.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.