Challenges Facing Learner Leadership at Schools

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue XII, December 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Challenges Facing Learner Leadership at Schools

Elock Emvula Shikalepo^1* & Selma Ndeyapo Kandjengo^2
1Lecturer, Faculty of Education, The International University of Management, Namibia
²Senior Education Officer, Directorate of Adult Education, Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, Namibia
*Corresponding Author

Abstract: The purpose of the study was to establish the challenges that faced learner leadership at school level. A case study design was used as a methodology for the research, whose sample comprised of school principals, teachers and learners of Oshana Region. All participants were selected using purposive sampling. The data was collected with document analysis, semi-structured questionnaires, interviews, observation and journaling. The collected data was analysed by establishing themes.
The study established that learner leadership was faced by challenges which relates to the lack of support from senior school structures. Teachers were not providing the required support to learner leaders, and instead made comments which were discouraging learner leaders from executing their leadership responsibilities. Similarly, school principals were also not providing enough support to learner leaders as any issues raised to the school principal were not attended to promptly, and learner leaders were not provided with ample opportunities to make their voice heard. The lack of support from senior management discouraged learner leaders from executing the leadership roles effectively.
In addition, indiscipline among learners also gave learner leaders hardships in executing their leadership roles, especially that learner leaders were not receiving the required leadership support and guidance from the senior school leadership on how to conform unusual behaviours among other learners. An understanding of the challenges facing learner leadership at school could help educational authorities to develop better interventions for addressing the challenges facing learner leaders in the execution of their leadership roles, thereby allowing learner leaders to execute their leadership functions effectively at school.

Keywords: Learner leadership, Learner representative council, Leadership, Management, learner voice, learner leader

I. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

There are numerous challenges that hamper learner leadership in schools. Mitra and Gross (2009) established that the communication gap between the school board, administration and learners is an obstacle to the leadership voice of learners. Students in USA and Australia have been found to wants to be heard as they shared a sense of frustration that they were being ignored collectively in school leadership (Smyth, 2006). Therefore, there is a need for a kind of leadership that fosters learner leadership voice, as many learners are suffocating from a lack of human connection (ibid). Hence, a need to entrust learners with leadership roles in schools.

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