Linking Appraisal to Professional Development in the IQMS in South African schools.

Abstract

Linking Staff Appraisal to Professional Development in the Integrated Quality Management System in South African Schools Mchunu HT and Steyn GM Abstract: The literature on staff appraisal reveals that its ultimate purpose is the professional development of educators. This article reports on part of a study that sought to explore the need to link appraisal and professional development in the Integrated Quality Management System in schools. These schools are located in the Mafukuzela-Gandhi circuit in KwaMashu Township, which falls within the jurisdiction of the Pinetown district of KwaZulu-Natal. A qualitative research design was deemed most appropriate for this study, and interviews were conducted with principals, school management teams, and educators in the selected schools. The conclusions drawn from the findings included the ambiguous purposes of the Integrated Quality Management System, non-adherence to the procedures and processes for implementing the system, and its failure to cater for educators’ continuous professional development. Keywords: performance appraisal, professional development, integrated quality management system.