School governance and management: The Principal - Board of Trustees relationship

Abstract

This paper considers Tomorrow's Schools with particular reference to its central theme of decentralisation and devolution of power, along with its implications for power relationships and divisions of responsibility within school communities. It also considers the practical implications of the fact that while schools are required to function under a state prescribed model of partnership, its components, governance and management are not clearly defined. It is argued that if Tomorrow's Schools is the management model society wishes to adopt then it must be clear about the roles and responsibilities of each of the actors involved with the governance and management of the school.