Management of over–politicized secondary schools for Blacks

Abstract

Secondary schools for the black population group are politicized. The political climate which is prevailing in this country influences schools in general and the principal's management task in particular. This dissertation seeks to investigate the influence of political factors on the management task of the principal of secondary schools for blacks. One of the causes of politicization of these schools is the apartheid education system which was designed for black population groups by the government without involving black people in the decision-making machinery. At the beginning of the fifties, black people started forming numerous political organisations to fight the apartheid education system. Pupils who were part of this education system became part of these political organisations. The organisation in which pupils take an active part is the Congress of South African Students (COSAS). This organisation obstructs the smooth running of secondary schools by deliberately and continuously causing disruptions at these schools. On the other hand, teachers take an active part in the South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU). Teachers who have affiliated with this union, disregard the school regulations. They, for instance, take part in political marches during school hours. There is also the parents' organisation, namely the National Co-ordinating Committee (NECC). Parents who belong to this organisation influence the pupils and the teachers negatively, to such an extent that the politicized pupils vandalize schools. These political organisations cause unrest at schools in general and at the secondary shoots in particular. Secondary schools are not effective because of the political climate which prevails in them.