Strategies in Managing Transformation in South African Schools

Political changes in South Africa have ushered in educational reform at a fast pace. The period 1994 -2010 saw the formation of an education system that has impacted on the day-to-day running of schools . Education managers are often called transformation managers. For a school to transform communities must also transform. Parents, as community members need to participate in decision making structures in the schools where their children are attending. The South African Schools Act No.84 of 1996 made provision for such participatory efforts. The legal environment concerning the children in schools brought about a new diminsion about understanding safety and human rights issues.Schools do not exist in isolation, partnerships with outside agencies are imperative. Culture and language form the core of school transformation. Educational managers are faced with additional responsibilities to be more responsive to the needs of communities. Transformation in education necessitates a look at gender and the management of HIV/AIDS, crime and violence in schools. Employment Equity Act No.55 of 1998 addresses affirmative action in South Africa.