The programme focuses on supporting strong school leadership, which research shows is vital for school success
Leaders for Education
Our Leaders for Education programme (which is a refresh of Partners for Possibility), pairs public school principals with business leaders from the private sector in a year-long, immersive leadership development experience. Launching in 2024 with new content on African leadership, ethics and wellness, Leaders for Education will build on the impressive 13-year history of Partners for Possibility and deepen our impact in education.
This programme focuses on developing robust school leadership, which research shows is vital for school success. Effective principals play a pivotal role in nurturing and supporting teachers, boosting morale, inspiring motivation and fostering innovation. This creates an environment that is conducive to learning and inspires positive changes within the education system as a whole. Furthermore, business leaders derive benefit from this collaboration by gaining profound insights into the challenges faced by public schools, while enhancing their own leadership skills beyond the confines of the boardroom.
Principals
Increased confidence and resilience
- Enhanced listening and delegation skills
- Improved ability to positively engage stakeholders
- Access to an on-going support system
- Become more effective change agents
Schools
- Improved leadership and culture
- Higher levels of engagement from educators, learners, parents
- Context-driven improvement projects
- Improved learning outcomes due to more effective leadership
Business Leaders
- Enhanced leadership skills, including the ability to influence without direct authority
- Better understanding of the context within under-resourced communities
- Stronger relationships with communities surrounding their business
- An opportunity to make a significant contribution
Requirements
- A time commitment of 150 hours over one year
- Must lead a quintile 1 – 4 government school (primary, intermediate, secondary, combined, LSEN or SOS) preferably with 300+ children
- Must have been at the school as permanently appointed principal for at least 1 year, or recently appointed as principal after serving as deputy principal at that same school for many years, or appointed as acting principal at the school for 2 – 3 years
- Must be committed to stay at the school for the next 5 years as principal
- Not engaged in Masters / MBA / PhD /Principals Academy studies
- Must be committed to their school, learners and staff, and have a ‘can-do’ attitude
- Must understand that the focus of the programme is to improve their schools through personal leadership development, and that business leaders should not be seen as a source of funding
- A time commitment of 150 hours over one year
- At least 5 years’ experience in leadership and/or organisational development (preferably senior to executive manager)
- Must be 30 years or older
- Not in the process of changing jobs or department, and/or not engaged in postgraduate studies for the year that they are partnered with a principal
- Must be able to contribute to the cost of the programme
- Must understand that they will have no direct authority in the school environment, but will be a thinking and development partner to the school principal
School principals and business leaders: Are you ready to create the #TheFutureWewant?
Apply now to participate in Citizen Leader Lab’s Leaders for Education programme!
