Educational decentralization and school governance in South Africa: from policy to practice

This book explores the nature of participation, representation and decision-making in school governance in South Africa based on a collective case study of six schools in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) that was undertaken between 2002 and 2004. The different types of schools (selected based on level of school and community resources, former Apartheid education administration, geographical location and level) were compared by the following criteria: their interpretation of the new governance policies, students', teachers', and parents' behaviour and attitudes relating to governance, and organizational governance practices. The main focus was on stakeholders' sense-making or theories of action regarding school governance.