The preparation of Fijian school leaders: a framework for principal preparation in a South Pacific context

Mohini Devi, Venesser Fernandes

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

    8 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Increased school autonomy and a greater focus on achieving school effectiveness and improvement has made it essential to reconsider the role of school leaders (OECD 2009, Creating Effective Teaching and Learning Environments: First Results from TALIS. Paris: OECD Publishing). This recommends that leadership development in this rapidly changing world deserves significant consideration compared to the past. With the increasing interest entrusted to school leadership, this article reports on how school leaders are currently prepared by the higher education programmes offered in two out of three universities in Fiji. Through an extensive literature review as well as through programme documents and policy reviews, this article focuses on current educational leadership post-graduate courses offered at these Fijian universities and highlight areas of strengths as well as suggests recommendations for improvement that are in line with identified needs for effective principal preparation in a Fijian context with key connections made to the larger South Pacific region.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)53-65
    Number of pages13
    JournalJournal of Educational Administration and History
    Volume51
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2019

    Keywords

    • aspiring principal preparation programs
    • aspiring school principals
    • Fiji
    • leadership development
    • principal preparation programs
    • School principals
    • South Pacific

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