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Mission statement and management of private tertiary religious institutions in Eastern and Southern Africa

The region of Eastern and Southern Africa has recently experienced an unprecedented
development of private tertiary institutions. Most of these institutions are established by
religious organisations which, since the inception of education, have been involved in
operating educational institutions of lower levels. Although referred to as private
institutions, which by definition would imply funding other than the government sources,
these private institutions find themselves, at times requesting the government to fund
their development as well as their operations.
This study sought to investigate if these private religious institutions have unique raison
d'etre expressed in the form of mission statements. The study also investigated the nature
of their management and the management structures in practice.
The literature reviewed indicated that private religious institutions have a unique mission
based on their basic concept of education and their world view. They seek to pursue and
inculcate specific values. Operating in a competitive environment, however, in which
their competitors do receive funding from the government makes the private institutions
vulnerable to hardships.
The study was conducted using qualitative research approach in three countries, namely
Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe; involving all degree granting recognised private
religious institutions in the sample and focussing on the management. The respondents
were chosen by elite purposive and snowball sampling. The main data collection method
was the interview. However, document analysis, observations, and a questionnaire were
also used.
The findings from the data indicate that private religious institutions have unique
missions although they are, at times, not expressed in the form of mission statements. As
a result some of the stakeholders, including those involved in management, don't get to
know what their institutions' missions are.
The study concludes by emphasising the development of clear mission statements
involving the stakeholders in the process and having the mission statements widely
disseminated. It is also recommended that training in management is important for the
managers of the institutions at the various levels. A model of management is proposed
for streamlining the management of the institutions considering the requirements of the
national governments as well as those of the religious proprietors. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Educational Management)

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:umkn-dsp01.int.unisa.ac.za:10500/17085
Date06 1900
CreatorsKibuuka, Hudson Eddie
ContributorsSteyn, G. M.
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Format1 online resource (xiv 361 leaves)

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