Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 121-125) Also available in print.

This thesis traces the evolution of learner participation in school governance in South Africa, identifies international trends in school governance, particularly learner participation, and then analyses the progress made in South Africa in moving from policy to praxis in this regard. I have discussed the contextual forces that have influenced the production of the policy text on learner participation in the South African Schools Act. This is followed by an analysis of how the policy text has been interpreted and implemented at provincial level in the Western Cape, taking provincial legislation, regulations, circulars, and the capacity building programme that was implemented into consideration. I also look at how the whole process was experienced at institutional (school) level, and how the policy was interpreted and implemented. I also evaluate the phenomenon of learner participation in school governance in terms of promoting the principles of transformation, placing particular emphasis on the promotion of democratic practices in South Africa.<br /> In conclusion I contend that the present policy of learner participation in school governance does reflect the resolve of the National Government to promote the principle of participation by all stakeholders in matters affecting them. However, the study has shown that the implementation of the policy at provincial and institutional level has not been as effective as it might have been and has hampered the development of praxis in learner participation. This has hindered learners from making meaningful contributions towards the attainment of the goals as set out in the constitution. Furthermore, present rumblings of curtailing the powers of the school governing bodies because of limited progress in attaining the above goals seem to be a retrogressive step. I strongly contend that given the support, training and encouragement as set out in Article 19(2) of SASA, learner participation in school governance can make a positive contribution towards attaining the goals of transformation in our country, particularly of advancing democratic practices in our society.

This study was designed to analyse university presidents' perceptions of the student role in university governance. A comparison of these perceptions was made with the written policies and with student perceptions of actual student participation in the governance process on the individual campuses. These comparisons were made to determine if the presidential responses were congruent with or divergent from the stated policies and the perceived practices. The areas of university governance that were investigated were: faculty concerns, student services, physical plant, academics, and administrative concerns. A review of literature was conducted to determine what areas should be considered when dealing with student participation in the university governance process. This information provided a basis from which a questionnaire was developed for the purpose of interviewing university presidents, student leaders, and student government advisors. Handbooks, policy manuals, and other documents stating policies were obtained from the sample institutions to ascertain what the written policies were for each campus. The interviews with the student leaders and advisors provided information that was used to determine the student-perceived practice of university governance on each campus. A content analysis was made of the presidential responses and then the comparisons were made and placed on tables to simplify recording the information. The findings of the study indicate that there are many varied perceptions among university presidents in regard to the student role in university governance. The highest rate of congruency with stated policy and with student-perceived practice on campus came in the area of student services. The lowest rates of congruency were found in both the academic concerns and the administrative concerns. There were no strong patterns shown in making comparisons based on the type of institution, state or private, or the size of the institution, the three largest institutions as compared to the three smallest institutions. In the beginning of the study two predictions were made in regard to the presidential responses. These predictions were stated as follows: (1) The presidents' perceptions of the student role in university governance of state institutions will be more divergent from the stated policies on the student role in university governance than the perceptions of presidents of private institutions. (2) The smaller the institution, the more congruent the presidential perceptions of the student role in university governance will be with the student-perceived practice of university governance. In the final analysis, that made by totaling all responses, it can be concluded that prediction number one is true. The final analysis proves prediction number two to be false. There is a higher rate of congruency among the larger institution presidents than among the smaller institution presidents.

No description available.

This thesis traces the evolution of learner participation in school governance in South Africa, identifies international trends in school governance, particularly learner participation, and then analyses the progress made in South Africa in moving from policy to praxis in this regard. I have discussed the contextual forces that have influenced the production of the policy text on learner participation in the South African Schools Act. This is followed by an analysis of how the policy text has been interpreted and implemented at provincial level in the Western Cape, taking provincial legislation, regulations, circulars, and the capacity building programme that was implemented into consideration. I also look at how the whole process was experienced at institutional (school) level, and how the policy was interpreted and implemented. I also evaluate the phenomenon of learner participation in school governance in terms of promoting the principles of transformation, placing particular emphasis on the promotion of democratic practices in South Africa.<br /> In conclusion I contend that the present policy of learner participation in school governance does reflect the resolve of the National Government to promote the principle of participation by all stakeholders in matters affecting them. However, the study has shown that the implementation of the policy at provincial and institutional level has not been as effective as it might have been and has hampered the development of praxis in learner participation. This has hindered learners from making meaningful contributions towards the attainment of the goals as set out in the constitution. Furthermore, present rumblings of curtailing the powers of the school governing bodies because of limited progress in attaining the above goals seem to be a retrogressive step. I strongly contend that given the support, training and encouragement as set out in Article 19(2) of SASA, learner participation in school governance can make a positive contribution towards attaining the goals of transformation in our country, particularly of advancing democratic practices in our society.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Toronto, 2004. / Adviser: John Portelli.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Georgia State University, 2009. / Title from file title page. Philo A. Hutcheson, committee chair; Carlos McCray, Jennifer Esposito, Roger R. Lee, committee members. Description based on contents viewed Oct. 19, 2009. Includes bibliographical references (p. 409-429).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Georgia State University, 2006. / Title from title screen. Susan, Talburt, committee chair; Deron Boyles, Richard Lakes, Irene Prue, committee members. Electronic text (146 p.). Description based on contents viewed May 8, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p. 130-140).

As South Africa prepares to reconstruct its education system for a post-apartheid, democratic society, many facets of educational life will of necessity come under re-examination. One such area is that of school governance which traditionally was the domain of principals, teachers and more recently parents, with little, if any, input by students. After 1985, however, with the formation of the Congress of South African Students (CaSAS), backed by the National Education Co-ordinating Committee (NECC), the demand for student participation in the management of schools began to gain momentum. Parent-Teacher -Student Associations (PTSA's), although not recognised by the education authorities, were established in many black schools throughout the country. They afforded students the opportunity to become involved, as equal partners with teachers and parents, in decision-making in the management of secondary schools. During the past decade, however, the question of student participation in decision-making in the management of schools has become a point of controversy. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of students in decision-making in the administration and management of secondary schools. For this purpose case studies were conducted in two schools with active student participation in joint decision-making. The schools were selected after a preliminary investigation of the state of PTSA's in schools in the greater Durban area. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with teacher, parent and student representatives and principals and non-participant observation of PTSA meetings, workshops and social functions were used to survey attitudes and opinions pertinent to this study. The results of the study indicate that student participation in the management of schools is crucial for the creation of a climate of learning and teaching and that it is seen in itself as an integral part of the process of students' development. The study also points to the dilemma that students face in participating jointly with parents and teachers in decision-making while maintaining their autonomy. The recommendations that emerge from the study include the involvement of students as equal partners in decision-making in secondary schools, the establishment of Internal Disciplinary Committees in which students participate, the appointment of a member of staff as a liaison officer for student affairs with the task of establishing a Students' Representative Council (SRC) and the implementation of training programmes that would assist students in joint decision-making. The study acknowledges the existence of conflict between the participants but proposes that such conflict can be constructively addressed tbrough "creative consensus" that would benefit both the participants and the school. The researcher recommends that for the present, students should not be involved in any discussions of teacher misconduct and that students should not be entrusted with handling the finances of the school without teacher or parent supervision. However, in keeping with the developmental approach adopted in the study, it is envisaged that when the element of trust is developed between students and teachers, students would be allowed to participate in these sensitive areas of decision-making.

D.Ed. / The shared decision-making implied by the democratic governance of higher education, enforced in terms of section 27(3) of the Higher Education Act (RSA, 1997) has existed de facto since the advent of democracy in the new South Africa. Members of college councils and their subcommittees, students and lecturers have, in effect, been involved in the governance and decision-making processes in teacher-colleges since the advent of the new democracy. Contrary to the assertion that decisions are easier to accept and implement if people participated in their making (Liontos, 1994; Gibson and Hodgetts,1991:153; Huber, 1980:141), managerial decisions in teacher-colleges continue to be flouted by students and lecturers. Strikes and boycotts, which were previously blamed on undemocratic, unilateral decisions, are still common. This study, therefore, seeks to examine the relationship between democratic values, effective decision-making and decision implementation in teacher-college management. Questions to be investigated which emanate from the problem elucidated above are: what are the democratic values which underlie effective shared decision-making? do participants in the process know the values which are fundamental to shared decision-making? to what extent do participants have the perception that they are committed to democratic values in shared decision-making? what recommendations can be made which could serve as guidelines for an effective decision-making model for teacher-college management?