A Programme for Facilitating Effective Leadership for Inclusion

The leadership style in the school organisation probably has a significant impact on the educational process. The leadership and management approach employed by the School Management Team (SMT), will, to a large extent, determine the way in which a particular school would be effective in the implementation of an inclusive education programme. Engelbrecht, Green, Naicker and Engelbrecht (1999:49) indicate that even the psychosocial environment of the school is strongly affected by the style and manner of the leadership and management practised. Middlebrook (1980:404) takes this point further by mentioning that leadership is an important element in the effective functioning of a group or an organisation. Since 1994, South Africa has undergone major political and economic changes, and education was no exception. According to the Department of Education (DoE, 1997b:41), the recent adoption of a new Constitution for South Africa, together with the introduction of new education legislation and policy, are important in providing a framework for recognising diversity, and providing quality education for all learners, including those learners excluded by the previous system.

Autorentext

He was born in Mangaung, Bloemfontein in the Free State Province, South Africa. He is a senior academic at the University of the Free State, Qwaqwa campus. His areas of interest are Inclusive and Sexuality Education. Rantsie is a former Head of Department of Natural Science at secondary school level.