Abstract
This study contributes to our understanding of the best practice of the external bodies’ (government, parents and community) and leadership participated on education management at local and school level in tackling the problem of social exclusion and child poverty toward Universal Primary Education (UPE). Four conditions need to be met to make sure that the UPE is fulfilled in this context, namely availability, accessibility, acceptability and adaptability. This thesis is based on a single case study of Padang Municipality, West Sumatra in Indonesia. Data was collected through the study of documents, semi-structured interviews, and participant observation.Content analysis of the data demonstrates that education management has taken many concrete steps in tackling the problem of social exclusion and child poverty in Padang Municipality. The awareness of parents to send their children to school is outstanding. Government regulation and funding to support education management in resolving the issues is strong, and community involvement has also lightened the burden of education management. Without overlooking the role of external factors, the study found that the leadership of principals is key to tackling the remaining problems. Based on fieldwork findings, best practice in addressing the issue of social exclusion and child poverty is by making the external bodies and schools participate more actively in supporting education management together. Moreover, here, the role of leadership is needed to become the motor in empowering the externalities toward its institutional goals.
Fieldwork also found some weaknesses in education management in term of the admissions and assessment system, the skills of teachers, the leadership of the principals, in curriculum and utilisation of local curriculum, and the coordination between education management and external bodies. If it so, it is recommended to conduct research in that area to strengthen the education management in achieving the next goals, providing an inclusive and equitable quality of education and fulfilling twelve years of compulsory education.
| Date of Award | 6 May 2020 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Supervisor | John Lever (Main Supervisor) & John Anchor (Co-Supervisor) |