مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Criteria for the evaluation of school administrators’ performance and causes of low performance: a qualitative study

Abstract :

This study adressed the following questions to the school administrators: ‘What are the possible standards of the performance evaluation of school administrators?’ and ‘What are the elements that lower school administrator performance?’ During the interviews school administrators have been asked to write their responses. The sample of the study consists of a total of 40 participants including administrators, vice principals and assistant principals. 12 themes are grouped under the standards that need to be considered during the performance evaluation while 12 themes are grouped under the standards that lower school administrator performance. The results of the study show that school administrator responses to both questions revolved around the strong impact of the contextual factors on the school functioning and on the school administrator performance. The possession of leadership qualities, professional knowledge and personal characteristics, student achievement, school culture and appropriate infrastructure, physical condition of the schools have been amongst the highlighted themes amongst The standards that need to be considered during the performance evaluation. Amongst the elements that lower performance, the participants underscored the insufficient funding, frequent changes in legislation and problematic issues regarding the staff.