LEADING LEADERS: A SCHOOL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

The gurus of change management research remind us that change is a slow process, and where there has been stagnation for a long time, it may be difficult if not impossible. This paper discusses an educational change venture undertaken by the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Educational Development, in the field of educational management for school heads of different education providers in Pakistan. This paper deals with the experience of a faculty member (the writer) involved in some of these programs. It focuses on the salient features of the program, its challenges and responses, and lessons learnt. The paper focuses on the difficulties of developing educational leadership in developing countries, by describing the issues involved in the implementation of the program at the Aga Khan University (AKU-IED). The paper analyzes the challenges that the circumstances of a developing country impose upon such leadership development initiatives. It further argues that by careful conceptualization, involvement of the grassroots level leadership, schools can be improved through developing headteachers for leadership roles.