Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.21464/mo.29.2.7
Principal's competencies: The example of the Republic of Croatia
Renata Burai
; Academy of Fine Arts, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivan Burić
orcid.org/0000-0001-8539-6013
; Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Rona Bušljeta Kardum
; Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
In the Republic of Croatia, being the principal of an educational institution is no longer just a function but a profession. Since 2021, the obligations and rights of principals of educational institutions derive from legal regulations, while the competencies of principals have been determined by the standard of occupation and the standard of qualification. This paper, on the basis of the Qualification and Occupational Standard - Principal of an Educational Institution, which determined the competencies of school principals of educational institutions, sought to determine the level of competencies of principals acquired through formal teacher education. Formal teacher education implies the acquisition of competencies for work in educational institutions. These competencies are acquired in the Republic of Croatia through teaching courses in graduate university studies. The survey method was used on 200 participants, primary and secondary school principals in the Republic of Croatia, to assess the level of acquired competencies, i.e., knowledge and skills, during such education that are applicable in the duties of principals. The surveyed principals expressed satisfaction with the competencies acquired in formal teacher education, especially those competencies that refer to the organizational management of the educational process and cooperation with parents and the external environment. However, the research identified groups of competencies that principals assess as insufficient. The obtained results indicate the need to implement additional training programs for principals that would enable them to acquire knowledge and skills that they have not acquired through formal education, that are crucial for the management of an educational institution.
Keywords
competencies; evaluation; the principal's occupation; the principal's tasks
Hrčak ID:
296367
URI
Publication date:
28.2.2023.
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