With the advent of democracy in 1994 and the repeated calls by the South African public for the renewal and reconstruction of the education system there has been a radical shift on school supervision from inspection to whole school evaluation. The new system of school supervision is carried out under the auspices and in terms of the National Policy on Whole School Evaluation. The application of the said policy however has not been without its own problems. Teacher unions have in some circles resisted its application in their schools. Trained departmental officials had to be chased away from some of the schools that were targeted for evaluation and this incident generated heated national debates in the public domain and within educational forum (Natal Mercury 28 May 2002). This study takes a cue from these widespread debates about the implementation of the Whole School Evaluation Policy within the school context. It explores in details the implementation strategies of the WSE policy, how the policy is conceived and perceived by those to whom it is applied. The study looks at the reception of this policy and the experiences gained by those educators who were evaluated with a view to suggest areas for development and reinforcement of good educational practices. These experiences were captured through the use of interviews, policy analysis and questionnaires. Responses were then analysed and interpreted with a view to make recommendations on how best the policy could be applied at school level. The study found that Deputy Principals are neglected in terms of training. This affects policy implementation at school level where their involvement in school management is substantial. The study also found that there is a serious lack of a shared basis of cooperation between schools and their district offices in respect of implementing WSE. The study further indicated a serious lack of co-ordinated effort on all levels of the system in the application of the WSE policy. The application of WSE has no visible support from major role players especially at district level. The absence of key structures and personnel such as district support teams and WSE coordinators as suggested by policy, impacts negatively on the implementation of the policy at the school level. Having considered all available options and the contextual factors within which the policy is applied in our schools this study advances a variety of recommendations that could be applied to improve implementation of the WSE Policy in schools in KwaZulu-Natal. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Durban-Westville, 2004.

Published Article / Studies show that although evaluation policies regarding educator development and whole-school improvement have been put in place and even though schools express willingness to participate in such evaluation actions, they remain deeply suspicious of, and even subvert the original goals of these policies. This study explores the involvement of educators in School Self Evaluation, an internal evaluation which is a pre-requisite in the process of Whole School Evaluation (WSE) and their views on School Self-Evaluation (SSE) in relation to their professional development. WSE is the official evaluation system in South Africa. Schools undergo both external and internal evaluation. Results thereof are used by schools together with the District Support System to draw up School Improvement Plans (SIP's). In this study, a mixed mode approach was used. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used. Data were gathered from 125 educators in sixteen randomly sampled evaluated schools. The research findings suggest that educators are neither sufficiently trained nor are they aware of the significance of their role in the process, as well as the impact of school self-evaluation on their professional learning. Educator's learning appears to be influenced by the learning environment nurtured by the school and the way the school implements SSE. The study also provides an insight to how stakeholders involved in the implementation of School Self-evaluation would foster the educator's professional development as well. Supportive school administration, adequate school leadership and collaborative educator culture would contribute a lot to constructive learning environment.

School evaluation has increased in importance in recent years, particularly at the level of the whole school. It is the process which assesses the worth and merits of the institution. Due to the fact that, in most cases, evaluation is judgemental, the notion of Whole School Evaluation (WSE) was introduced into the South African education system by the national Department of Education after the 1994 democratic election. WSE has since then became the official evaluation system in South Africa. In WSE schools undergo internal as well as external evaluation. The results of the evaluation are then used by schools to draw the School Improvement Plans which are aimed at school improvement. This study explores the implementation of WSE in rural primary schools in Limpopo Province. A literature study investigated school evaluation within the international and the South African context, the provision of education in Limpopo Province and existing models of WSE. Against the background of the conceptual framework provided by the literature, a qualitative investigation was done in four primary schools in the Vhembe district in Limpopo Province. Data were gathered by means of in-depth interviews with principals of schools and supervisors. The researcher also conducted focus group interviews with School Management Team (SMT) members from participating schools. Data was analysed, discussed and synthesized. Analysed data revealed the following findings: schools experience difficulties in conducting self-evaluation, educator development in rural primary schools in Limpopo is a problem and the district and the Department of Education do not assist schools concerning development after WSE has been conducted. As a result of these findings, there is a need to assist schools in their development endeavours after WSE. The district officials as well as supervisors should find ways and means of assisting schools in the route to development. Areas for further investigation that would enhance WSE in rural primary schools have been identified. Finally, the conclusion is drawn that schools need to be rehabilitated after WSE. This will assist in developing the whole institution and improving the level of education in South African schools. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Education Management)

<p>A mixed methods approach was employed and included a document study, questionnaires and a focus group interview. Participants included post level one teachers, and non-teaching staff and members of the school management team at one school in the Western Cape. Research findings indicated that the school management team only implemented IQMS to comply with departmental requirements and to ensure that teachers received pay progressions. It also emerged that planning was only done for compliance resulting in no real school development taking place at the school due to a number of constraints. It is recommended that the school management team employs a more balanced approach to school evaluation with a strong focus on both Developmental Appraisal (DA) and Performance Management (PM) as they employ whole school v development. It is further recommended that the school management team plans for school development with the intention to implement these in order to improve the conditions in the school. A final recommendation is that the Department of Education establish a directorate of school development in order to fund and assist schools with translating evaluation into school development.</p>

<p>A mixed methods approach was employed and included a document study, questionnaires and a focus group interview. Participants included post level one teachers, and non-teaching staff and members of the school management team at one school in the Western Cape. Research findings indicated that the school management team only implemented IQMS to comply with departmental requirements and to ensure that teachers received pay progressions. It also emerged that planning was only done for compliance resulting in no real school development taking place at the school due to a number of constraints. It is recommended that the school management team employs a more balanced approach to school evaluation with a strong focus on both Developmental Appraisal (DA) and Performance Management (PM) as they employ whole school v development. It is further recommended that the school management team plans for school development with the intention to implement these in order to improve the conditions in the school. A final recommendation is that the Department of Education establish a directorate of school development in order to fund and assist schools with translating evaluation into school development.</p>

School evaluation has increased in importance in recent years, particularly at the level of the whole school. It is the process which assesses the worth and merits of the institution. Due to the fact that, in most cases, evaluation is judgemental, the notion of Whole School Evaluation (WSE) was introduced into the South African education system by the national Department of Education after the 1994 democratic election. WSE has since then became the official evaluation system in South Africa. In WSE schools undergo internal as well as external evaluation. The results of the evaluation are then used by schools to draw the School Improvement Plans which are aimed at school improvement. This study explores the implementation of WSE in rural primary schools in Limpopo Province. A literature study investigated school evaluation within the international and the South African context, the provision of education in Limpopo Province and existing models of WSE. Against the background of the conceptual framework provided by the literature, a qualitative investigation was done in four primary schools in the Vhembe district in Limpopo Province. Data were gathered by means of in-depth interviews with principals of schools and supervisors. The researcher also conducted focus group interviews with School Management Team (SMT) members from participating schools. Data was analysed, discussed and synthesized. Analysed data revealed the following findings: schools experience difficulties in conducting self-evaluation, educator development in rural primary schools in Limpopo is a problem and the district and the Department of Education do not assist schools concerning development after WSE has been conducted. As a result of these findings, there is a need to assist schools in their development endeavours after WSE. The district officials as well as supervisors should find ways and means of assisting schools in the route to development. Areas for further investigation that would enhance WSE in rural primary schools have been identified. Finally, the conclusion is drawn that schools need to be rehabilitated after WSE. This will assist in developing the whole institution and improving the level of education in South African schools. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Education Management)

Magister Educationis - MEd / A mixed methods approach was employed and included a document study, questionnaires and a focus group interview. Participants included post level one teachers, and non-teaching staff and members of the school management team at one school in the Western Cape. Research findings indicated that the school management team only implemented IQMS to comply with departmental requirements and to ensure that teachers received pay progressions. It also emerged that planning was only done for compliance resulting in no real school development taking place at the school due to a number of constraints. It is recommended that the school management team employs a more balanced approach to school evaluation with a strong focus on both Developmental Appraisal (DA) and Performance Management (PM) as they employ whole school v development. It is further recommended that the school management team plans for school development with the intention to implement these in order to improve the conditions in the school. A final recommendation is that the Department of Education establish a directorate of school development in order to fund and assist schools with translating evaluation into school development. / South Africa

This study examined the nature of quality assurance frameworks in science education and the factors negatively affecting the quality of science education in the Johannesburg South district. The study explored the quality assurance practices, challenges that impede the attainment of quality science education in schools and the impact of quality assurance on the quality of science education. The Integrated Quality Management System, which encompasses whole-school evaluation, is the main policy used in secondary schools’ quality assurance system. A mixed methodology design was used in the research. The data collected was both qualitative and quantitative and was obtained from both primary and secondary sources. The qualitative data provided research opportunities which extended the type of information collected. It implied an interpretive or subjective approach with the focus being on how the respondents experienced and understood the quality assurance processes. Concurrent triangulation designs or convergent parallel design was used in order to develop a complete understanding of the research problem by obtaining different but complementary data for validation purposes and enhancing triangulation. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected at the same time and the findings were integrated in order to understand deeper the quality assurance mechanisms applied in science education. The use of multiple perspectives, theories and research methods resulted in rich information being gathered for analysis. The study revealed that quality assurance practices, ranging from Integrated Quality Management System, Whole-school Evaluation and Assessment Quality Assurance among others, had a positive influence on the quality of science education. The results indicated that quality assurance policies and mechanisms present were followed by schools and the district support helped to improve the quality of science education. The presence of quality assurance policies and mechanisms had a positive bearing on the quality of science education. The lack of infrastructural resources, non-availability of laboratory technicians, science educator work overload, parents’ non-involvement in academic support, poor learner subject selection criteria and non-rigorous quality assurance follow-up mechanisms were the main factors hindering the quality of science education. / Educational Studies / D. Phil. (Education)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the implementation of Whole School Evaluation (WSE) policy in the Libode District, Eastern Cape Province (ECP). The ECP consists of 23 districts with different learner performance levels. Libode is one of the districts in ECP with poor learner performance. The qualitative case study was used to examine the role of the stakeholders in implementing WSE policy. The empirical research was done through the semi-structured interviews with district and provincial education officials, open-ended interviews with School Management Teams (SMTs) and documents from sampled schools were analysed. The findings suggested that there was a concern in the implementation of WSE in secondary schools; they are not implementing the School Self-Evaluation (SSE). This suggested that there was a need for training schools on how to conduct SSE. The stakeholders were not conversant about the policy and inevitably not performing their roles as stipulated in the policy. This suggested clarity and redefining of roles of the stakeholders and capacity building. There were systemic barriers in the implementation of WSE policy. That implied provision of human and financial resources and accountability of the role players in monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the policy. In conclusion, the findings and recommendations in this study will provide valuable contribution to the implementation of WSE in Libode secondary schools. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

A number of educational reform initiatives are being introduced in South Africa to address the imbalances of the past. Schools with different backgrounds are expected to implement these reform initiatives. Due to their diverse contexts, schools approach, interpret and implement these initiatives differently. Consequently, these schools demonstrate different attitudes towards these initiatives. Whole-school evaluation is one of these reform initiatives. As a result of the changes taking place in the education system in South Africa, roles performed by all stakeholders in the education system have also been affected. Since the principal is fully responsible for the proper functioning of the school, this study explored his/her managerial role in whole-school evaluation, particularly within the context of disadvantaged schools/communities. It examines how educational changes impact on the roles of the principal, particularly the principal of a disadvantaged school. The study includes a literature review from local and international perspectives of whole-school evaluation, the managerial role of the principal and disadvantaged schools/communities. A qualitative investigation of the managerial role of the principal in whole-school evaluation in the context of disadvantaged schools in KwaZulu-Natal was conducted. Data were analysed, discussed and synthesised. The study revealed that whole-school evaluation is not fully being implemented. Shortage of supervisors in the province, lack of educator training, particularly of principals in whole-school evaluation and lack of support from the Department of Education, particularly District Offices, are regarded as the major factors that impede the proper implementation of whole-school evaluation. As a result principals are not certain about the roles they should play in whole-school evaluation. The study shows that findings and recommendations of the supervisors have not been addressed. This is attributed to the poor communication between the District Office and schools to address areas identified by schools in their improvement plans. What compounds the problem is that the role of the Circuit Office in whole-school evaluation is unclear. This has a bearing on the functioning of schools because the Circuit Office is closer to the schools and should, therefore, communicate with them regularly. Based on findings, recommendations for improving the role of the principal were proposed. / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (Education Management)