Optimising school management strategies: Empowering school management teams through revision of the learners’ code of conduct for effective discipline management

Abstract

In the study reported on I investigated how empowering school management teams through a revised learners’ code of conduct can  improve school discipline management. Using a quantitative research methodology with an exploratory design, data were gathered from  127 respondents across 50 selected schools in the Vhembe district of the Limpopo province, South Africa. School management  teams and teachers completed surveys focused on managing learner discipline. Data were collected through a closed-ended Likert scale  questionnaire. The collected data were analysed using an IBM SPSS 26 statistical program. Grounded in social learning theory, I aimed at  repositioning a learners’ code of conduct to enhance discipline management. The effectiveness and enforceability of a code by the school  management teams while assessing their legal compliance competencies were specifically analysed. The findings reveal that  school management teams often lack effective strategies and interventions to tackle learner discipline challenges. I emphasise that it is  crucial for South African researchers to continue making meaningful contributions to the teaching profession, despite its current  instabilities. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on school management strategies and provides valuable insights for  optimising discipline management practices in schools.