Aga Khan Academy Maputo certifies 40 school managers
The Aga Khan Academy Maputo’s Professional Development Centre (PDC) hosted a closing ceremony for its educational management and leadership course on 19 July 2024. The course, in its fifth year of running, is offered to public school managers from the Matola District Service for Education, Youth and Technology.
The 10-day course, which had a total of 40 participants,aimed to encourage public school managers to reflect and develop collaborative practices at school that foster the formation of well-informed citizens.
“One of the Academy's distinctive features is the provision of continuous professional development programmes for educators,” said PDC Coordinator Mr Aleixo José. “There is an urgent need to implement changes in the conception and management [of schools], and this course serves as a call to reflect on the fundamental concepts and practices of democratic management.”
During the sessions, the attendees participated in discussions where they examined the current state of management and leadership practices in their schools.
“This course made me reflect on what it means to be a school manager, and to learn more about participative management,” said Ms Berta Olumene, a school manager from the MachavaSede Primary School. “The course will have a long-lasting and positive impact because it has provided me with the tools to mobilise the school council to focus on the development of the school and improve the quality of education for our students.”
One of the highlights of the course was the visible change in the attendees' mindsets regarding their methods and how they can implement and share best practices.
“I always blamed others for the failures in the school’s management process,” said Mr Eugénio Gingador, a school manager from the Complete Primary School of Matola J. “I am thankful for the Aga Khan Academy Maputo’s initiative to provide this training. It has certainly helped me change the way I perceive my role as a school manager.”
Since its first edition, the Aga Khan Academy Maputo’s PDC has certified over 100 primary school managers.With the centre’s aim to strengthen the teaching profession through learning opportunities, the Academy’s PDC will continue supporting educators and school staff by providing ongoing, collaborative training, as well as outreach programmes for teachers and head teachers from neighbouring government, private and not-for-profit schools.
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