The Role of School Governance in the Democratisation of Public Schools: A Reference to KwaCeza Circuit in Kwazulu Natal Province

Abstract

The research focused on the role of the capacity, skills and knowledge of School Governing Bodies (SGBs) in the democratisation of public schools situated in KwaCeza Circuit- one of the circuits in KwaZulu-Natal province. The research methodology used could be described as qualitative, exploratory and descriptive in nature. Stratified purposive sampling was used to select participants who were selected according to preselected criteria (that is, being SGB members) relevant to the research questions. Data were collected by means of two focus groups interviews, one involving the principals of the schools and the other the SGB members of the same schools. An analysis of the data revealed a number of challenges which SGBs in KwaCeza Circuit experienced. Amongst others, one challenge was that parents had limited knowledge of their roles and responsibilities, with the result that school governance of the school became adversely affected. That implied that some of the SGBs would have to be trained to be functional.