Skip to the main content

Preliminary communication

https://doi.org/10.30924/mjcmi.24.si.4

Analysis of elements and process of school principals' professionalization in Croatia

Renata Relja orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-5684-4558 ; University of Split, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Croatian Center of Scientific Excellence for School Effectiveness and Management, Department of Sociology
Toni Popović orcid id orcid.org/0000-0003-1881-489X ; University of Split, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Sociology
Tea Gutović orcid id orcid.org/0000-0003-0713-4610 ; University of Split, Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism (adjunct)


Full text: english pdf 457 Kb

page 55-71

downloads: 835

cite


Abstract

By combining the attributive-taxonomic and process approaches to the profession, resulting from different sociological traditions, the professional elements and the professionalization of school principals in Croatia are analysed. The research was conducted by survey method in
2017. The sample was convenient and included 73 principals who participated in the research activities of the Centre of Scientific Excellence for School Effectiveness and Management. Our results suggest that the job of school principals in Croatia cannot be considered a profession yet. There are no fundamental elements that differentiate the profession from an ordinary occupation. More specifically, there is a lack of expertise in the area of educational management and leadership (authority), cooperation with professional associations in defining the professional socialization (autonomy), as well as high social status (attractiveness) as a result of the state of previous elements. Given the contextual specificity, the discussion presents incentives, obstacles and recommendations for further professionalization of school principals in Croatia. The importance of professional education is emphasized, whose design and implementation should involve representatives of principals’ rofessional associations, as well as decentralization of education system so that theoretical expertise can be developed through the practice. As the trained practitioners focused on a benefit of the educational system stakeholders (altruism), the principals should set the conditions of the profession to make it more attractive for the best candidates.

Keywords

profession; professionalization; school principals; education; Croatia

Hrčak ID:

220245

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/220245

Publication date:

29.5.2019.

Visits: 1.854 *