Exploring the Implementation of National Education Standards in a Centralized Management System: A Case of Secondary Schools in South East Education Division

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the management of secondary schools in a centralized system while fulfilling the effective practices of the National Education Standards. The objectives were to investigate how managers describe the management system they are operating on and their understanding of the National Education Standards under management, to analyze the implication of managing secondary schools in a centralized system in achieving effective practices of the NES under management and to identify factors affecting the achievement of effective practices on NES under management. The research used a case study design while adopting a qualitative approach within the interpretivism paradigm which helped the researcher to have a deeper understanding of each case. The study was guided by a conceptual framework derived from two management theories namely bureaucratic and structural theories. Schools which participated were sampled from the South East Education Division (SEED). Data was collected through interviews and document analysis. The instruments were piloted before actual data collection and prior to data collection, consent was sought from MZUNIREC which gave ethical clearance. The collected data was managed by storing it in different forms like audio, written notes, and pictures to prevent it from getting lost or to avoid tampering with it. Then the data was analyzed thematically, the findings of the study were that some managers have an understanding of the National Education Standards and it was revealed that Malawian Secondary schools are managed under a highly centralized system, this system brings complications to management and the achievement of the National education standards and that factors like inadequate resources, knowledge gap, lack of cooperation between managers and their subordinates which affect the achievement of the National Education Standards.