Teacher & School Development
The CIE offers a variety of programmes to assist schools. A current programme aims to assist and support principals.
Roles and expectations of school leaders have changed radically in recent years. South African school leaders face challenges such as difficult socio-economic circumstances, curriculum change which has largely failed, and problems with retaining and managing staff. The continued decline in school results means that principals are under increasing pressure to deliver. It is no longer enough that they be good managers; they have to be leaders of the school as a learning organisation.
The CIE is offering professional development in leadership for principals in Catholic schools in response to these challenges. Through a stimulating programme and peer interaction, the aim is to develop stronger leadership.
The approach we take in our leadership programme is based on current research among leaders in a number of fields and aims to provide the school leader with ways of analysing the challenges they face. The main contention is that those in formal leadership share responsibility by building the leadership capacity of all stakeholders. Very importantly leaders need to become more authentic human beings, so as to meet the challenges of the day.
The programme is built on the idea that leadership and administration are essentially moral activities and that teaching and educational leadership must have a moral purpose. It aims to assist principles to tackle the complex and multidimensional ethical challenges faced in schools.
The seminars will provide an operational framework for leaders dealing with complex daily ethical issues. Principals will be enabled to reclaim the moral and spiritual domains of leadership by exploring their schools’ contexts and challenging them “to know more deeply who they are”.
Part of this programme was the conference at Birchwood, Boksburg on 9 & 10 August Buidling Sustainable Catholic School Leadership.
Teacher development
The CIE through its programmes aims to develop teachers and give schools support that brings about meaningful change. Programmes which involve curriculum such as the Religious Education and Life skills programmes help teachers to understand curriculum and assessment requirements as outlined in National policy.
Governance
Governance of schools is an important part of ensuring quality education. In public schools School Governing Bodies (SGBs) are elected every three years. CIE regional managers offer developmental workshops to assist SGBs to help them to understand their roles and responsibilities.
Independent Schools have Boards of Governors whose needs are responded to on request.
