Primary school principals experiences in the implementation of policy change

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of the study was to explore and investigate the experiences of Eswatini primary school principals in the implementation of educational policy changes. A literature review was conducted in line with the research questions and the research aim. A qualitative research approach, adopting a case study design, was used to explore Eswatini primary school principals’ experiences of the implementation of policy changes. Twelve primary school principals participated in the study from both rural and urban schools of Eswatini. I used Viennet and Pont’s (2017) framework to guide this study. This theory helped me to understand how policy implementation can be facilitated. The interpretive paradigm was employed to understand the experiences of principals in the implementation of educational policies as key stakeholders who were directly involved in the implementation of educational policies. In this study, I used semi-structured interviews and document analysis to generate data. I purposefully selected participants to ensure relevant data was gathered. I drew participants from the two regions of the country: Hhohho and Manzini. I analysed data qualitatively through coding, categorising, and developing themes. I used the themes that developed from data interpretation as headings for the findings. Themes that developed from the study revealed that principals had a conceptual awareness of the policy; principals were not involved in the formulation of the policy nor prepared for its implementation. Principals execute a variety of roles in implementing policy changes and they employ different strategies to implement the policy. It was further revealed that schools were experiencing a shortage of funds in the implementation of the policy; the national policy had not been reviewed since inception while school policies are reviewed annually. Through the research findings, I then proposed a policy implementation model that is holistic in nature, which can help in the implementation of policy changes in Eswatini.