Examining the role of leadership,trust for school culture and policy

Quality of life relies on also the quality of working context and the group dynamic. Culture of schools, trust and leadership facilitate quality in fostering strategic policies in establishing policy and development. The aim of the research study is to examine the role of leadership, trust for school culture in regard to the perceptions of inspectors. As this research stands on qualitative nature, experiences, perceptions of research participants shape the current understanding to give insights on the role of leadership, trust. In addition, establishing school culture is a part of quality to set policy in terms of development, inspection is a moderation of encapsulating the nature of school culture. Interview was employed to gain understanding and experiences of inspectors in relation to leadership, trust for the school culture. Mission, vision of schools, principles of schools, loyalty to schools, policies, objectives of practices in schools, social interaction in schools. Thematic analysis through laddering was done that five themes were established in examining leadership, trust in the school culture. It is important that employees in the training organization act in a joint view on implementing educational objectives. This is achieved by developing positive attitudes in people and by being able to act constructively with each other. The research results revealed that the inspectors who are currently working at the Ministry of National Education have their views on the mission, vision and leadership of schools and what they think about school culture trust in schools.

     

An evaluation of educational and administrative decision making process in tolerance school context for job motivation

The aim of this study is to specify class and branch teacher participation in educational and administrative decision making and their desire to participate, and reveal the level of relation between participation in decision making and job motivation. In the study a relational scanning model was made use of. The participants, 118 class and 70 branch teachers, 188 in total, from 11 schools were picked through simple random sampling method. According to the results, teachers are more involved in educational decision making in schools than in administrative decision making. Teachers, on the other hand, desire to have more participation educational and administrative decision making within their respective schools. In terms of gender, branch and professional seniority, the level of participation of teachers in decision making and their willingness to participate in decision making are close to each other. Despite the insufficient levels of participation of teachers in decision making, their motivation levels are generally high. As the level of participation of teachers in decision making has a strong relationship with their level of motivation, motivation levels increase as teachers’ participation in decision making increase. Therefore, school administrators should be trained on persuading participation and treat teachers fairly and provide equal opportunities to help them increase their organizational and administrative motivation level.

     

Evaluation of administrative and supervisory performance of the directors of Special Education Institutions according to the teachers

In this research, the criticism of the performance of the managers of the Institutions of Special Education by the teachers was investigated. In this context, the school principals in the teaching process; planning, organizing, decision making, coordination, evaluation and supervision were questioned about the behaviors of the school in the eyes of the teachers and the suggestions of the teachers. The research was conducted in the Special Education Institutions in Nicosia. In the sample, interview questions were asked regarding the productivity and application levels to 13 teachers in 8 schools. In the findings of the research, the level of implementation of the administrators who work in the Special Education Schools in their behaviors related to the management processes is quite good. Feedback has been received at such a level that managers can appreciate both bilateral relations and each stage of the management process. As a result of the research carried out, change and development are necessary, even though the Director of the Special Education Institutions is considered sufficient in terms of planning, decision making and coordination in bilateral relations and increasing in-service training for teachers and principals nowadays, and training for the awareness of teachers’ communication and democratic attitudes is necessary.

     

An investigation of universal values and disability awareness in course books

Course books are medium to transfers values in education. Disability awareness plays a great role to catch equity, access among learners and making social justice. This way of thinking is essential to be reflected in the education systems and course books are indicators in the reflections of curriculum as a technology and instruction integration. This research study aims to investigate universal values and disability awareness in course books. In this respect, the research is essential to state current situation in the curriculum in considering the universal values and disability awareness. Documentary analysis conducted to gather data and thematic analysis was conducted to evaluate data. The research study revealed that there is a need to conduct efforts to increase disability awareness in course books, because universal values in courses books are partial.

     

A practice of e-learning platform in fostering professional development

As a result of this study, provided considerable contributions to examine the e-learning practices from the point of views and experiences of academicians who enrolled academic writing course with the support of Adobe Connect Programme during 10 weeks and also research findings revealed that authentic learning environment enriches critical friendship, dialogue however they have faced with barriers during the process. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the impact of e-learning application by using adobe program on fostering academic writing skills of adult learners as regards to their evaluation. During 10 weeks academic writing course with the support of e-learning practice, participants were asked to indicate their experiences about each of the ten barriers (1) administrative structure, (2) organizational change, (3) technical expertise, (4) social interaction and quality, (5) faculty compensation and time, (6) threat of technology, (7) legal issues, (8) evaluation/effectiveness, (9) access, and (10) student support services. Qualitative research design was employed and action research approach was implemented in this inductive process. (developed by Muilenburg and Berge). In this research, one of the qualitative research approach, the “action research” carried out within the scope of the pattern, a five-phase collaborative coaching model (FCCM) was developed to awareness regarding teaching and learning processes during the course. The process employed authentic learning criteria as critical reflection, preparation, presentation, chat, video, dialogue and facilitation tools. Self-reflection report was used as data collection technique and analysed through thematic analysis.     

An evaluation of class-teachers’ roles in transferring values

Besides their academic success, teachers are bound to equip learners with values and prepare them as good citizens for the society. In this respect, the aim of this study is to evaluate primary school class-teachers’ roles in transferring values to their learners. This qualitative study comprises views by inspectors, directors, subject-teachers working in ten primary schools and parents in the city of Nicosia, Cyprus. The data was collected through interviews. This research indicated that class-teachers are effective role-models with responsibilities and effect of values transferring differed according to academic priorities and personalities. While parents feel satisfied with values transfer, most inspectors, directors and subject-teachers point to deficiencies in the approach. At this point, it is suggested that teachers are trained and a target-based curriculum is designed. This study was particularly aimed at evaluating class-teachers’ roles in transferring values in primary school years, which are assumed to be the most critical period of time. In the literature, the opinions of inspectors, directors, subject-teachers and parents about value transferring are not well known. One of the aims of tolerance education is that all stakeholders in educational organizations are satisfied with the transferring values and they feel peaceful. In this study, these new perspectives will show the state of harmony in educational institutions and the different opinions about transferring values. This research is hoped to add to this issue, which was rarely dealt with in literature, for the development of applications and policies.

     

Paternalist leadership style of the organizational trust

This study aims to evaluate the effect of paternalist administrators on the organizational trust of teachers working in their context. The notions of paternalist leadership style, trust, and organizational trust are explained based on literature. The study is based on qualitative research approach. Despite this, the short version of “Paternalist Leadership Scale”, developed by Cheng in 2004 and a short version prepared in 2014 is used initially. Administrators with paternalist leadership characteristic were established with the help of this scale. Later, open ended questions, developed by the authors, were asked to teachers in the schools as organizations of those administrators with the aim of establishing their “trust for the administrator and for the organization”. The sample of the research was made up of 30 teachers working at 5 primary schools of the North Cyprus Ministry of National Education during the 2016–2017 school year. It was observed in the findings that in the eyes of the teachers social characteristics of individuals were most important in creating and enhancing the feeling of trust. In addition, it was observed that personal characteristics were some of the defining factors in developing trust. The conclusion was reached that teachers working with paternalist administrators had positive communications with school administrators and colleagues, and that they carried out their relationships within the rules of good manners and kindness. Again, in the eyes of teachers, it was established that paternalist administrators were eager to renew themselves. Finally, paternalist administrators were found, with a high percentage, to be quite qualified in establishing organizational trust. In conclusion, based on the findings of this study, it can be said that administrators with paternal leadership qualities are qualified in creating organizational trust; therefore, it will be important to train administrators in developing their paternal leadership styles.     

An evaluation of higher education sector to the economy

Economic sectors consider the contribution of higher education sector. The big majority of the students studying at universities in North Cyprus come from overseas and they compose a big proportion in the population of North Cyprus and they contribute to the economy of North Cyprus as well as to the others involved. According to educational economists, the main source of economic development is the quality and level of education individuals receive. The quality of education has a big effect on the socio-politic and economic structure of a community. This, obviously, indicates the importance of universities for the communities and economy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the contribution of individual education to economy and the development of the country as well as the positive contribution of the universities to the economy of the country. A case study, one of qualitative research models, was conducted in this study. As for the study group, an “intentional sampling”, a model without selection, model was used. In this process, representatives from sectors, public organizations, and organizations in economy operating in the North Cyprus were interviewed and questioned through semi-structured interview forms. The research data was analyzed through content-analysis method and the contribution of the research has been presented as suggestions for the future.     

Being leader in global citizenship at the information technology age

Information technology sheds a light for the personal and professional development of human beings. In this respect, there is an intensified need for people to upgrade their skills for adapting themselves to the new century. This research aims to evaluate potential of higher education students on leadership. Qualitative research nature was conducted to the research. Thematic analysis was done to analyze data and themes are revealed. Research results revealed that continuos innovation, level of master by developing continually, creating originality relating to itself, obeying the ethics rules are potential to be leader and global citizenship at the information technology age.     

Development of education rights for disabled children in Northern Cyprus and evaluation of grants for their families

This paper focuses on the evaluation of education rights of disabled children and grants for families to foster social integration. In this respect, it is essential to conduct a research to set situation analysis on the social inclusion and development for equal life. Qualitative research nature was conducted in order to understand perceptions and experiences on current situation on rights and possible ideas for further development. In this respect, research study revealed that there is an intensified need to conduct project and studies to enhance rights and education facilities of disabled children and services for their families.