The Management of Conflict Between Teachers and School Management Teams at The Primary Schools of OR Tambo Coastal District in South Africa
Keywords:
Conflict resolution; school management; workplace; conflict; mediationAbstract
This study examined how the teachers and School Management Teams (SMTs) at elementary schools in the Oliver Reginald (O R) Tambo Coastal District handled conflicts. The objectives were to determine the reasons behind conflict, assess how they affect school operations, and to investigate the methods to enhance conflict resolution. Using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, data from 14 participants including ten teachers and four SMT members was gathered using a mixed-methods strategy. The results showed that interpersonal and organisational elements play a major role in conflict. The primary causes of conflict included but were not limited to ineffective interaction, opaque decision-making, perceived partiality, SMT members' leadership styles, ambiguous expectations, and unbalanced workload distribution. Task-related and organisational conflicts were also prevalent, but interpersonal conflict was shown to be the most prevalent. These disputes disrupted the teaching and learning procedures by having a detrimental impact on, staff morale, professional relationships, teamwork, and on the general school climate. The results, which were based on the transformational leadership theory, show that leadership techniques that prioritise openness, justice, cooperation, and shared decision-making can lessen conflict and promote a positive school climate. By putting these tactics into practice, staff relationships, the school environment, as well as the teaching and learning outcomes are all likely to improve. The study also found several successful conflict management techniques. Strengthening channels of communication, encouraging participatory decision-making, and putting in place formal mediation procedures to settle conflicts amicably are among the study’s recommendations. Formal professional development programs that emphasise communication, negotiation, mediation, and conflict management are also crucial for both the teachers and SMT members. By highlighting the crucial role that structured interventions and leadership play in effectively managing school conflict, this study adds to the body of literature on educational leadership.
https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.25.4.19
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