Promotion of Ethical Leadership Behaviour Practices in Public Secondary Schools: A South African Perspective

Abstract

Educators and school principals play an important role in promoting good ethical behaviour among learners and other stakeholders in the school setting. Learners look up to educators as catalysts in the promotion of values and morality, and in fostering responsibility in them. This study investigated ethical leadership behaviour practices in selected public secondary schools in Limpopo Province. The study followed a qualitative research method approach based on the interpretive research paradigm. Using a case study design with three public secondary schools in South Africa’s Limpopo Province, a convenience sampling method was used to collect data from six educators, three deputy principals, and three school principals, through semi-structured one-on-one interviews. The study’s findings revealed that unethical behaviour practices were identified as poor working environment and inadequate training of educators. Strategies to promote ethical practices included reinforcement of policies related to ethics for educators. The study therefore recommends that the Department of Basic Education should provide on-going educator development programs and workshops focused on ethical leadership and behaviour practices. Furthermore, educators should receive on-going support and monitoring to ensure that ethical leadership behaviour practices are implemented consistently, effectively and efficiently in public secondary schools.