The role of the Head of Department in contributing to successful teaching and learning in secondary schools, in Lulekani Circuit, Limpopo Province

Abstract

This dissertation presents a study that explored the role of Departmental heads (DHs) in contributing to successful teaching and learning in secondary schools, in the Lulekani Circuit, of Mopani District in Limpopo Province. This study was guided by the attribution theory, constructive research paradigm, phenomenological research design and qualitative research approach. The purposive sampling method was used to select the participants of this study, who included six principals and six Departmental heads from six schools. Three methods were used to collect data from the participants, namely, individual interviews, observation and document analysis. In this study, these methods assisted the researcher in analysing the role of the Departmental Head in contributing to successful teaching and learning in secondary schools. Thematic data analysis method was used to analyse the collected data. The findings of this study revealed five major duties of DHs, namely, designing year plans, schemes of work and lesson plans; supporting teachers in teaching and assessing learners effectively, professional development and monitoring of teachers and learners. The findings also revealed seven challenges experienced by DHs, namely, work overload, shortage of teaching and learning resources, poor discipline of learners and lack of support by parents. The findings revealed four strategies for ensuring effective teaching and learning, namely, designing a curriculum improvement plan, teamwork strategy, professional development and parental involvement The results of this study will guide DHs to support teachers in designing effective year plans, schemes of work and lesson plans; assist in promoting effective teaching, learning, assessment, professional development and parental involvement. In this study, effective design of a year plan, professional development, assessment of learners, teamwork, promotion of parental involvement and monitoring of teachers’ work is recommended. Suggestions for further studies on the role of DHs are provided. It is suggested that this study should also be conducted in all other circuits of the Mopani District, for example, Namakgale, Nkowankowa, Khujwana, Groot Letaba, Giyani, Manómbe and Nsami. This will provide a comprehensive perception of the role of DH. This study applied qualitative approach only. For future studies the application of quantitative approach is suggested due to a greater number of participants potentially being involved providing more extensive data. Generally, this study will improve instructional leadership in schools.

Desethesheni heyi i kumedza ngudo ine ye wanulusa mushumo wa Thoho dza Muhasho kha u shela mulenzhe kha u bvelela ha u funza na u guda kha zwikolo zwa sekondari, kha Liisela la Lulekani, Tshitirikini tsha Mopani Vunduni la Limpopo. Ngudo heyi yo endedzwa nga thiori ine vhathu vha pfa na u tshenzhela vhudifari, u kona u pfesesa nyimele kana tshiitei, u pfesesa na u talusa zwiitei na thodisiso ya khwalithethivi. Ho shumiswa ngona ya tsumbonanguludzwa ho sedzwa zwiṅwe zwithu u nanga vhadzheneli vha ngudo, vhe vha katela thoho dza zwikolo dza rathi na thoho dza Mihasho dza rathi u bva kha zwikolo zwa rathi. Ho shumiswa ngona tharu u kuvhanganya data u bva kha vhadzheneli, dzine dza vha, ithaviwu dza muthu nga muthu, u sedza na u saukanya maṅwalwa. Kha ngudo heyi, ngona hedzi dzo thusa mutodisisi kha u saukanya mushumo wa Thoho ya Muhasho kha u shela mulenzhe kha u bvelela kha u funza na u guda zwikoloni zwa sekondari. Ngona ya musaukanyo wa data hu tshi shumiswa thero yo shumiswa u saukanya data yo kuvhanganyiwaho, Mawanwa a ngudo heyi o dzumbulula mishumo mitanu mihulwane ya dzi HOD, ine ya vha u bveledza pulane dza ṅwaha, zwikimu zwa mushumo na pulane dza ngudo; u tikedza vhadededzi kha u funza na u linga vhagudiswa nga ndila yo teaho, mveledziso ya phurofeshinala na u tola vhadededzi na vhagudiswa. Mawanwa o dovha a dzumbulula khaedu dza sumbe dzo tshenzhelwaho nga dzi DH, dzine dza vha, mushumo wo dalesaho, thahelelo ya zwishumiswa zwa u funza na u guda, u sa vha na vhudifari havhudi kha vhagudiswa na u sa wana thikhedzo u bva kha vhabebi. Mawanwa o dzumbulula zwitirathedzhi zwina zwa u khwathisedza u funza ho teaho, zwine zwa vha, u bveledza pulane ya kharikhulamu, tshitirathedzhi tsha tshumisano, mveledziso ya phurofeshinala na u dzhenelela ha vhabebi. Mvelelo dza ngudo heyi dzi do endedza dzi DH u tikedza vhadededzi kha u bveledza pulane dza ṅwaha dzo teaho, tshikimu tsha mushumo na pulane dza ngudo; u thusa kha u tutuwedza u funza ho teaho, u funza, u guda, ndingo, mveledziso ya phurofeshinala na u didzhenisa ha vhabebi. Kha ngudo heyi, nyolo ya pulane ya ngudo yo teaho, mveledziso ya phurofeshinala, u linga vhagudiswa, tshumisano, na u tutuwedza u dzhenelela ha vhabebi na u tola mushumo wa vhadededzi zwo themendelwa. Ngeletshedzo kha ngudo dzine dza do itwa kha mushumo wa DH dzo netshedzwa. Ho dzinginywa uri ngudo heyi i fanela u itwa kha maisela othe a Tshitiriki tsha Mopani, sa tsumbo, Namakgale, Nkowankowa, Khujwana, Groot Letaba, Giyani, Manómbe na Nsami. Hezwi zwi do netshedza mbonalo yo fhelelaho ya mushumo wa DH. Ngudo heyi yo shumisa fhedzi kuitele kwa khwalithethivi. Hu khou dzinginywa u shumisa ngona ya khwanthethivi nga nthani ha tshivhalo tshinzhi tsha vhadzheneli vha ndeme vho dzheniswaho kha u netshedza data nnzhi. Nga u angaredza, ngudo heyi i do khwinisa ndangulo ya ndaela na kharikhulamu zwikoloni.

Pego ye e tsweletsa dinyakisiso tseo di nyakisisitsego seabe sa Dihlogo tsa Kgoro ka go tsenya letsogo go thuto le go ithuta ka katlego dikolong tsa sekontari, ka Tshengwaneng ya Lulekani, ya Selete sa Mopani ka Profenseng ya Limpopo. Nyakisiso ye e be e laolwa ke kgopolo ya go tsebagatsa, mokgwa wa nyakisiso wo o agago, sebopego sa dinyakisiso tsa phenomenological le mokgwa wa dinyakisiso tsa khwalithethifi. Mokgwa wa tlhwekiso o somisitswe go kgetha bakgathatema ba nyakisiso ye, bao ba akaretsago dihlogo tse tshela le dihlogo tse tshela tsa Mafapha go tswa dikolong tse tshela. Mekgwa ye meraro e ile ya somiswa go kgoboketsa tshedimoso go tswa go bakgathatema, e lego, dipoledisano tsa motho ka nosi, go ela hloko le go ngwala. Mo nyakisisong ye, nyakisiso ye e ile ya thusa monyakisisi go sekaseka tema ya Hlogo ya Kgoro go tsenya letsogo go thuto ye e atlegilego le go ithuta ka dikolong tsa sekontari. Taodisosengwalo ya taodisosengwalo e be e somiswa go sekaseka dintlha tse di kgobokeditswego. Dinyakisiso tsa nyakisiso ye di utollela mesomo ye mehlano ye megolo ya DHs, e lego, go hloma maano a ngwaga, maano a mosomo le maano a thuto; Go thekga barutisi ka go ruta le go lekola baithuti gabotse, tlhabollo ya profesara le tlhokomelo ya barutisi le baithuti. Dinyakisiso di bontshitse gape ditlhohlo tse supa tse di itemogelwago ke DHs, e lego, mosomo o boima, tlhaelo ya methopo ya go ruta le go ithuta, kgalemo ya baithuti le go hloka thekgo ke batswadi. Dinyakisiso di utolotse maano a mane a go netefatsa go ruta gabotse le go ithuta gabotse, e lego, go hloma leano la go kaonafatsa kharikhulamo, leano la mosomo wa sehlopha, tlhabollo ya seporofesenale le go kgatha tema ga batswadi. Dipoelo tsa nyakisiso ye di tla hlahla DHs go thekga barutisi ka go hloma maano a a atlegilego a ngwaga, maano a mosomo le maano a thuto; Go thusa go tswetsa pele thuto ye e atlegilego, go ithuta, tekolo, tlhabollo ya diprofesenale le go kgatha tema ga batswadi. Mo nyakisisong ye, peakanyo ye e atlegilego ya leano la ngwaga, tlhabollo ya seporofesenale, tekolo ya baithuti, mosomo wa sehlopha, kgodiso ya go kgatha tema ga batswadi le tlhokomelo ya mosomo wa barutisi e a sisinywa. Ditshisinyo tsa go ithuta tse dingwe ka ga karolo ya DH di tla fiwa. Go sisinywa gore nyakisiso ye gape e swanetse go dirwa ka di-circuits tse dingwe ka moka tsa Selete sa Mopani, go fa mohlala, Namakgale, Nkowankowa, Khujwana, Groot Letaba, Giyani, Manómbe le Nsami. Se se tla dira gore go be le kwesiso ye e tseneletsego ya karolo ya DH. Nyakisiso ye e ile ya dira gore go be go na le mokgwa wa go ba le mohola fela. Go dira dinyakisiso tsa ka moso go tla lebelelwa pele ka lebaka la palo ye kgolo ya bakgathatema bao ba ka bago le seabe go hwetsa tshedimoso ye e tseneletsego. Ka kakaretso, thuto ye e tla kaonafatsa tlhahlo ka dikolong.