Abstract:
This qualitative study sought to explore the experiences of stakeholders
at independent schools during and after the transition
from a not-profit governance approach to a for-profit governance
approach after a change of ownership. Section 29(3) of the
Constitution of South Africa provides that “everyone has the right
to establish and maintain, at their own expense, independent
educational institutions” subject to certain requirements to ensure
quality education (RSA, 1996a).
Such schools have become an integral part of the South African
education system. However, some independent schools represent
the notions of investment and profitable business and companies
listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) have started
to invest in the independent school sector. The requirements of
good governance, as stipulated in the King III Report on Corporate
Governance for South Africa 2009, were used as the conceptual
framework for this study.
Two independent schools that transitioned from a not-for-profit
approach to a profit-driven governance approach were sampled. It
was found that the experiences of the principals and management teams of the participating schools differed significantly from the
experiences of the teachers and parents at these schools. A school
is part of a community and when a company takes over a school,
they need to make sure the communication to all stakeholders is
clear and transparent.
