Exploring the ethical leadership practices of school management teams in selected secondary schools in Gauteng province

Abstract

The South African schooling system faces challenges which appear insurmountable particularly in school leadership. Credible scholarship has found that this is not only a South African problem but an international challenge. Many reports of the Department of Basic Education paint a picture of the education system that is in dire need of ethical leadership. One of the challenges is lack of school leadership that is able to provide the required direction that will assist to achieve the ethical objectives schools set for themselves. Drawing from the theory of ethical leadership, this study investigated the ethical leadership practices of the school management teams in selected secondary schools in Gauteng Province. The study further used a qualitative research approach with semi-structured interviews being used to collect data. The research paradigm that is an interpretative, and constructivist approach was used in the study. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the generated data and the following were the results of the study: (a) participants demonstrated knowledge of the theorisation of the concepts ethics and ethical leadership; (b) there were differing viewpoints of the demonstration of ethical leadership practices by school management teams. This study recommended strategies to enhance ethical school leadership practices, where guidance, mentoring and support, workshops on ethics focusing on sensitivity and awareness training were identified as intervention strategies to enhance ethical leadership. The introduction of communities of practice was recommended, where colleagues could share best ethical practices as a strategy to enhance ethical leadership in their respective schools.