EXPLORING SCHOOL LEADERSHIP

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES AND LOCAL INSIGHTS FROM SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Abstract

The article “Exploring School Leadership: Global Perspectives and Local Insights from Sub-Saharan Africa” provides a comprehensive examination of the current state of school leadership in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on Nigeria. The study is grounded in the context of global trends in school leadership and the unique challenges faced by school leaders in Sub-Saharan Africa. The problem statement revolves around the need for effective school leadership in the region, which is often hindered by barriers such as limited professional development opportunities and high rates of teacher attrition. The research questions focus on the patterns in the selection and appointment of school leaders, strategies for attracting talent to school leadership, conditions of employment for school leaders, support structures for effective school leadership, and policies for recruiting qualified principals. The methodology of the study involved a thorough review of existing literature and an analysis of primary and secondary data. The results revealed common patterns in the selection and appointment of school leaders, the importance of visibility and accessibility of professional development opportunities, the need for supportive employment conditions, the role of support structures in enhancing school leadership, and the effectiveness of current policies and strategies for recruiting principals. The findings indicated that while there are structures in place for the selection and appointment of school leaders, there are significant gaps in the provision of professional development opportunities and supportive employment conditions. Furthermore, the study found that support structures for school leaders are often lacking or inadequate. The policy implications of these findings suggest the need for leadership training programmes,increased visibility and accessibility of professional development opportunities, improved employment conditions, investment in comprehensive support structures, and revision of policies to ensure a more rigorous screening and selection process for principals. The study concluded that addressing these issues could significantly enhance the effectiveness of school leadership in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Nigeria.