Are Turkish Primary School Principals Ready for the 21st Century?

• In Event: School Leadership Across Contexts

Abstract

With the new dimensions of 21st century, schools are now forced to educate more people and prepare them for global competition instead of local ones of the past. Being the formal leaders of schools, principals can be expected to be primarily responsible for dealing with and responding to the new challenges 21st century has brought to our schools. In this context, this study explores the “21st century school administrator skills” of Turkish primary school principals and discusses how principal selection process in Turkey may affect principals’ competencies in different areas. In addition to explaining the potential connection between the current principal selection process and principals’ competencies, researchers also suggest in what ways this process could be overhauled.

Authors

• Sedat Gumus, Michigan State University

• Mete Akcaoglu, Michigan State University