Understanding School Governance

Craig Nicholson

About this Course:

This course was compiled from a Manual which was compiled and published for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education by a team that included: Dr M Lotter, Department of Education; Mr C Waddy, Education Consultant; Mr S Naicker, Education Consultant; and Mr F Goolam, USAID/South Africa.
Material may be reproduced if full credit is given.

The manual used, is based on an earlier version produced by the School Governance Unit, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education and Culture.

Edited by: K Jones
Translated by: S Ngubane and L. Makhubu (isiZulu) L Venter (Afrikaans)
Illustrations: L Sak
Design: C vd Merwe & J Nicholson
DTP: C vd Merwe

Lessons

Introduction

Content

Glossary

Introduction to the Manuals

How is this course designed

Section 1: Overview of School Governance

Section 1.2 – What is a school governing body?

Section 1.3 – Where does the school governing body fit into the education system?

Section 1.4 – How should a school governing body read and interpret legislation?

Section 1.5 – Does the school governing body manage the school?

Section 2. Structures and Procedures

Section 2.2 May a governing body serve more than one school?

Section 2.3 – Who are the elected members?

Section 2.4 How many elected members should there be?

Section 2.5 Who are the ‘co-opted’ members?

Section 2.6 – What is representivity?

Section 2.7 – What office-bearers should we have?

Section 2.8 – How long is the term of office of governing body members?

Section 2.9 – What if we lose a member?

Section 2.10 Should we form committees?

Section 2.11 – 2.12 The Act of meeting

Section 2.13 – Will we be paid for doing this work?

Section 2.14 – What is the legal status of the school governing body?

Section 2.15 – How does the school governing body communicate with the department?

Section 2.16 Rights of a learner member on the SGB.

Structure Quiz

Section 3.1.1 What are the functions of school governing bodies?

Section 3.1.2 The school governing body may carry out the following functions:

Section 3.2 – Can the school governing body take on additional functions?

Section 3.4 – Conflict of Interest

Section 3.5 School Governing Body Training

Functions (a) QUIZ – True or False

Functions (b) Quiz

Section 4.1 – Making Policies for Your School

Section 4.1.1 – What are policies?

Section 4.1.2 – What are the compulsory policies required by legislation?

Section 4.1.3 – How do we develop policies?

Section 4.1.4 – How do you make policies effective?

Section 4.2 – Compulsory Policies

Section 4.21 – What should go into the constitution?

Section 4.2.2 – How do we develop a school vision?

Section 4.2.3 – What is a mission statement?

Section 4.2.4 – What is a Code of Conduct for Learners?

Section 4.2.5 – What is an Admissions Policy?

Section 4.2.6 Language policy

Section 4.2.7 – What is a Religious Policy?

Section 4.3 – What are problem-oriented policies?

Section 4.4 – What are technical policies?

Policies (A) Quiz – Case Study

Policies (b) Quiz – Our SGB: The constitution

Policcies (c) – Amending a Constitution

Policies (d) and (e) – Vision and Mission Statement

Policies (F) – Admissions Policy

Section 5.1- What is Planning?

Section 5.2 – Who should do the planning?

Section 5.3. – When should we plan?

Section 5.4.1 How should we plan?

Section 5.4.2 – 3 Where do we want to be and how do we get there?

Section 5.4.4 – How will we know if we have been successful?