School improvement initiatives are crucial for enhancing educational practices and fostering sustained improvements in learner outcomes. Collaborative partnerships, particularly those emphasising robust processes, are often recognised for their potential to transform struggling schools. While many successful partnerships involve stakeholders with established records in school quality enhancement, an intriguing development is emerging in South Africa - collaborations between traditionally adversarial teacher unions and underperforming schools. This study focuses on one such unique partnership between the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU), the nation's largest teacher union, and Kuzolunga Secondary School (pseudonym), a poorly-performing rural school in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Specifically, this inquiry aims to understand and make meaning of the perspectives of key stakeholders regarding the management and outcomes of this school improvement initiative. Employing an interpretive case study approach, informed by the African philosophy of Ubuntu, which underscores interconnectedness, and Archer’s social realist theory, this research provides an in-depth analysis of the complex interactions within this partnership and its broader schooling ecosystem. Participants, purposively selected for their direct involvement, represented school teachers, school governing body members, education officials, SADTU leaders, and members of the SADTU school improvement initiative team. Data, gathered through semi-structured and focus group interviews, was analysed using inductive thematic analysis. The findings reveal that mechanisms fostering collaboration, shared decision-making, collective professional capital development, and the cultivation of Ubuntu-inspired values serve as critical drivers of this promising partnership. This case study demonstrates the transformative potential of seemingly unconventional school-teacher union collaborations in addressing educational challenges.

Authors:
Inbanathan Naicker, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Nomarashiya Primrose Caluza, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

About the Presenter(s)
Professor Inbanathan Naicker is a University Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer at University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

Bookmark