Skoolhoofde en die skep van ‘n skoolklimaat bevorderlik vir hoe onderwyser moraal

Abstract

‘n Krisis staar Suid-Afrika in die gesig: daar is nie genoeg onderwysers nie (Du Preez, 2007). Richardson beweer dat swak salarisse nie die oorsaak is van die tekort aan onderwysers nie, maar eerder kwessies in die werkplek wat stresvolle, swak werksomstandighede veroorsaak (Milburn, 2011:1). Onderwysers lewer ‘n kosbare bydrae tot die land. Hulle gaan grootliks behou word as hulle in ‘n stresvrye, aangename omgewing hul beroep kan uitleef (Asmal, 2001). Die navorsing het gepoog om vas te stel of 'n positiewe leierskaps- en bestuursdinamika van die skoolfhoof 'n beduidende korrelasie toon met 'n gesonde skoolklimaat en hoë onderwysersmoraal. 'n Kwalitatiewe studie is by twee staatskole in Gauteng gedoen. Drie metodes is gebruik om data te versamel. Eerstens is 'n vraelys, in die vorm van 'n narratiewe raamwerk, én ‘n opstel aan onderwysers gegee om te voltooi om sodoende opsteltipe kommentaar te verkry. Tweedens is onderhoude gevoer met die skoolhoofde wat semi-gestruktureerde vrae moes beantwoord. Laastens is data ingesamel deur navorser se nie-deelnemende waarneming by die skole. Deur die data te ontleed, te analiseer, volgens temas te klassifiseer en gevolgtrekkings te maak, is bevind dat daar inderdaad 'n positiewe verwantskap bestaan tussen effektiwiteit en die leierskaps- en bestuursdinamika van die skoolhoof. Alleen is dit egter nie die enigste fakor wat skoolklimaat en onderwysersmoraal kan beïnvloed nie. Daar is bevind dat bestuur, sowel as kollegas, ouers, veral leerderprestasie en dissipline in die klaskamer tegelyk ‘n rol speel.

A crisis is imminent in South Africa: There are not enough teachers (du Preez, 2007). According to Richardson the cause is not poor salaries which cause the shortage of teachers, but rather a poor working environment (Milburn, 2011:1). Teachers play a significant role in South Africa, and, will only be kept in the profession if a healthy and stress-free environment can be assured (Asmal, 2001). The aim of this research was to establish whether there is any correlation between a positive leadership and management style (from the school principal), and that of a healthy school environment, with high teacher morale. A qualitative study at two state schools in Gauteng was undertaken. Three methods of data collection were used. Firstly, a questionnaire in the form of a narrative framework was completed by teachers. Secondly, an interview with the school principal was conducted, to answer semi-structured questions. Finally data was collected via the non-participating observation of the researcher, at these schools. By analysing and classifying the data, and conclusions made, it was found that a positive relationship indeed exists between the school principal’s leadership and management dynamics, and, a healthy school environment, with high teacher morale. However, the principal's leadership is not the only variable that has an influence. Management, teachers, parents, and, especially learner achievements and discipline also have a significant role in creating a higher teacher morale and healthy school environment.