At MCPT one of the core pillars of improving our 16 under-resourced “footprint” schools as functional places of learning is that of Principal Leadership Support and Development (see table below)
Our Principals have incredibly tough jobs (not that the job of any principal is ever easy!); most have full-time teaching loads; little in the way of administrative assistance; unreasonable pressure from the DBE; a minimal staff (the prescribed ration is 33 kids to a single teacher); and parental indifference, more of a challenge than parental involvement! Our schools range for 1400 to 270 kids.
Our workshops concern themselves with a range of challenges our Principals face daily. We therefore place emphasis on leadership skills such time management; governance; dealing the department; prioritising; decision-making; discipline and what makes for functional schools.
We also spend time listening to the day-to-day crisis management issues that come across their table. In particular hygiene, security and classroom dignity. Our schools are No-fee schools and receive a measly R325.00 per head per annum from the DBE to pay for water, electricity, maintenance, cleaning materials, transport, printing and stationary. Currently we have 40 young Eduhelpers and 8 learnerships deployed to provide both administrative and teaching assistance; this support is valued greatly.
I thought it may have interest to show a typical programme below with input from:
Karen Mckenzie – MCPT Trustee
Steuart Pennington – MCPT Trustee
Akhona Sikhakhane – MCPT Manager
Paul Rencken – FEDSAS KZN Manager (SA Federation of School Governing Bodies)
Venue – Roy Gathorne Pavilion
