Leadership and Management Training for School Heads: A Milestone Achievement for Fiji

Abstract

This study reports on how a group of Fijian school leaders felt about a leadership and management training programme they had just completed. As a preliminary study, it gathered data by means of a survey questionnaire and document analysis. The data analysis reveals the principals' positive perceptions of the programme overall, although they felt some areas need more attention, notable among them being both context-specific and field-based learning, which the leaders consider essential in future training programmes in leadership and management to meet the special circumstances of the school. Implications of the study's findings are also pertinent to other jurisdictions within and beyond the Pacific region for leadership preparation and development to improve leadership practices, an essential ingredient in school effectiveness.