TITLE:
Factors Affecting South African District Officials’ Capacity to Provide Effective Teacher Support
AUTHORS:
Bongani D Bantwini, Nolutho Diko
KEYWORDS:
School Districts, District Officials, Curriculum Specialists, Curriculum Reforms, Natural Science, Science Education, South Africa
JOURNAL NAME:
Creative Education,
Vol.2 No.3,
August
9,
2011
ABSTRACT: The role of district officials as education reform agents is undeniable. Through perspectives analyses, we explore factors that affected the capacity of eight South African districts to provide effective teacher support during the last implementation of natural science reforms. We argue that district officials’ capability and reality issues are some of the factors that are likely to determine the success or failure of reforms. Further, they have the gravity to nullify the efforts to improve school performances. Lastly, we propose ways to bridge the gap between theory and practice and strategies to promote partnership between district officials and schools.