Developing School Leaders in the Pacific

This book provides detailed insights on the training and development for Pacific Island school leaders. It draws extensively on original empirical research that explores school leaders’ perceptions of how leadership and management training impacted their professional practices, and how these practices in turn impacted the dynamics of school operations. This book addresses a critical need to understand how to support leadership development for all Pacific schools, but especially in schools that are faced with the increasing challenges of learning and teaching conditions. In small island developing states in the Pacific region, school leaders face a myriad of challenges due to limited human and material resources, and a fragile economic base. Written by Pacific Islander authors, this book provides insights from different countries in the Pacific Islands. It shows how contextual challenges can exert enormous pressure on school leaders who are leading and managing schools without any leadership preparation.

Given the importance of effective leadership practices and its impact on student learning outcomes, this book aims to be a source of reference for practitioners and educational authorities who have a vested interest in the provision of quality education in the Pacific region and beyond.

Dr Narsamma Lingam is a Lecturer in Educational Leadership at School of Pacific Arts, Communication and Education, at the University of the South Pacific, Fiji. She joined the University of the South Pacific in 2012 as a Teaching Assistant, where she is now a Lecturer. Prior to joining the university, she provided service for the Fiji Ministry of Education as a secondary school teacher and student counselor. She obtained her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of the South Pacific, her Master of Education degree from the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, and her Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of the South Pacific, Fiji. Her research interest lies in the field of educational leadership, with a special focus on leadership for learning, leadership challenges, leadership development, teacher professional development and professional learning. She is a regular recipient of the Vice Chancellor’s research excellence awards at the University of the South Pacific, and has published a number of articles in scholarly journals and books. Dr Narsamma Lingam also coordinates a number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in educational leadership.

Professor Govinda Ishwar Lingam is Professor of Teacher Education and former Head of School of Education at the University of the South Pacific, Fiji. His previous experience includes secondary school teaching in Fiji, then taking on the position of Head of Department for Mathematics, before serving at the then Lautoka Teachers’ College, which is now part of the Fiji National University, as Senior Lecturer in Education, and later as Head of School of Education. He obtained his Bachelor and Master’s degrees from the University of the South Pacific, and his Doctoral degree from Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia. His research interests include issues relating to teacher education, educational leadership and management, assessment and values education. Professor Govinda Ishwar Lingam has published several articles in scholarly journals and books, and also edited and authored a number of books. He served as the President of the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS), and also as the member of the University of the South Pacific Council and Senate. He is well versed with educational issues in the Pacific region and attempts to address them in collaboration with education ministries.