Discussions

Transforming school leadership in 21st century -  Re-conceptualizing role of school leadership in leading educational change

It is essential to highlight that school leadership has pivotal role to play in making teaching and learning congruent to the current needs of the time. Absence of role clarity may lead to devastating effects on the lives of learners and community at large. The changing demands of educational world expects leaders to change their own traditional beliefs in order to develop appropriate and favourable school environment  for teachers and students to work,  learn and develop effectively. The engine that drives change is leadership: leading educational programs, inspiring teams, encouraging collaboration, bridging community and school etc.

Since 2010, Notre Dame Institute of Education has inaugurated a postgraduate degree and certificate in Educational Leadership program using blended methodology i.e. face-to-face and online/distance learning mode, which is accredited by Australian Catholic University - Australia.

 At the postgraduate degree program in Educational Leadership, I worked with a group of experienced  school leaders who partook into a course title ' Leading Educational Change" using blended learning methodology for the entire semester. School leaders enrolled from all parts of country, and attended two weeks face-to-face programs where the conceptual framework was developed, discussed and debated throughout the weeks; and then school leaders spent rest of five months implemented new initiatives contextualizing needs of the community.

This study presents the process of engaging leadership and preparing them for their re-conceptualize roles. It will present their success stories, also highlight the issues of quality and accessibility in achieving their goals, furthermore internalizing the initial hiccups in implementing new initiatives in educational context.