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  • Essay / School Leadership for the 21st Century in Fiji

    Over the years, various concerns have been raised regarding Fijian education (Baba 1979; Dakuidreketi 1995; Bacchus 2000). It has been pointed out that many Fijian educational institutions do not perform well academically. (M. Singh 2008) The media further suggested that all participants in the school, including management, staff and parents, must share responsibility for this debacle. Among these groups, the school administrator plays a key role in all school affairs. These schools face considerable challenges such as uninspiring leadership and a lack of support from the community served by the school (Williams.E. 2000). As (Leithwood 1999) argued, “outstanding leadership is extremely context sensitive”. In a similar vein, (NCSL 2001-2002) in the United Kingdom argues that leadership should be seen as a contextualized activity. So the context in which you are concerned is what you do as a school leader. The literature for example (David Stewart 1985) demonstrates that good practical theory in school administration is necessary to effectively manage a school. Since all schools have unique characteristics, it is essential that principals and school leaders adopt a theory that will help them fully understand aspects related to their professional work. In this regard, it is crucial that school administrators are professionally prepared for this position. There is no doubt that applying the knowledge acquired from school administration courses in daily work will make a difference in the school's performance. Due to the importance of leadership in ensuring sustainable school development, many countries have invested significantly in the professional preparation for the continued development of school leaders...... middle of article...... considered the “wise” “The three Cs”, i.e. commitment, consistency and cooperation. This will lead to sustainable leadership where positive impact can be seen on the people, environment, relationships, processes, systems and culture that strengthen the organization. Professor Chandra, in 2004, stated that "quality comes from a strong and innovative curriculum, effective and stimulating classroom practice, challenging and valid assessment and the provision of adequate resources for education". The new social and political order in the country could improve the leadership of schools. The Prime Minister's plan to prioritize education can only flourish if there are qualified and ethical leaders to take up challenges These leaders should read articles, books and journals on leadership to improve their practical knowledge so that our nation becomes highly educated...