Leaders and Leadership in Serbian Primary Schools: Perspectives Across Two Worlds

Description

This book explores the perspectives of primary school leaders in Serbia as they attempt to navigate its changing political, social and economic situation. As a post-socialist and post-conflict country, Serbia has moved from a state-ruled and planned economy to market-oriented consumerism and competitiveness. In the midst of a rapidly changing and evolving country, school leaders have found themselves on the front lines of a system where infrastructure and support have not been implemented consistently. The clash between the complexities of Serbia’s history and attempts to align education policies to those of the European Union has created unique challenges for primary school leaders: they are expected to be both objects and agents of change in a context where their own political position and relationships with students, parents and the teaching profession at large have been irrevocably altered. By illuminating the perspectives of the leaders themselves, this book emphasises the importance of these actors on the front line of Serbian education: its findings can equally be applied to other post-Communist and post-conflict contexts. Front Matter ....Pages i-vii Introduction (Jelena Raković, Tom O’Donoghue, Simon Clarke)....Pages 1-19 Overview of the Context (Jelena Raković, Tom O’Donoghue, Simon Clarke)....Pages 21-52 Overview of Related Academic Literature (Jelena Raković, Tom O’Donoghue, Simon Clarke)....Pages 53-92 Perspectives of Primary School Principals in Serbia on Societal Changes and Their Relationship to Education Changes (Jelena Raković, Tom O’Donoghue, Simon Clarke)....Pages 93-124 Perspectives of Primary School Principals in Serbia on School Governance (Jelena Raković, Tom O’Donoghue, Simon Clarke)....Pages 125-152 Perspectives of Primary School Principals in Serbia on Their Roles and on Their Professional Learning (Jelena Raković, Tom O’Donoghue, Simon Clarke)....Pages 153-179 Overview, Discussion, and Conclusion (Jelena Raković, Tom O’Donoghue, Simon Clarke)....Pages 181-207 Back Matter ....Pages 209-224