What does it take to improve School Leadership in low and middle-income countries?
Targeted research to understand needs of School Leaders
Investment in addressing school leadership should begin with conducting research and analyzing data that reveals the needs of school leaders.
Access to contexualized training and ongoing support
School Leaders need access to high-quality training programs that are customized to their context and focus on improving teaching and learning.
High quality data systems for monitoring and impact evaluation
There is a need for systems of monitoring, measuring, and evaluating program effectiveness to constantly improve the design and delivery of programs.
Systemic focus on School Leaders
Strengthening school leadership practices is dependent on multiple stakeholders (government, funders, partners). All stakeholders need to see the direct link between school leadership and student outcomes.
3 reasons why investing in school leadership is smart
Effective leadership enables improved student outcomes
School Leaders are on top of the leadership pyramid of a school system.Working with them directly can have a positive impact on teaching practices, student learning environment and overall health of communities.
It is cost effective
It is cost effective to work with School Leaders. Studies show that training SLs adds just 5% to the school budget and increases student learning by 30%.
Easier to scale and impact more schools
Working with School Leaders, allows us to have school wide impact, that in turn can have community wide impact. Building the capacity of School Leaders safeguards sustainability of school improvement practices.