A study of the implementation of the developmental appraisal system in a former DET primary school in the Pinetown district of the Kwazulu-Natal Department of Education and Culture.

Abstract

This is a study of the Implementation of the Developmental Appraisal System in a former DET school in the Pinetown District of KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education and Culture. It focuses on how educators have understood the Developmental Appraisal System, how they have experienced it and what they would recommend for the DAS so that the school, hence the education system can benefit from it. The main findings in this study indicated that there is a need for retraining of educators for the Developmental Appraisal System to be a success. The problem of the time constraints is also another factor that has made the practical implementation of the DAS to fail. Attitudes of educators in connection with the DAS need special attention so that they become more positive about the DAS. Positive findings indicated that involving other people when one has to be appraised makes the appraisee experience other people's input about his/her strengths, areas of development, opportunities and situations threatening his/her performance. I, as a researcher, would recommend a closer look at how time is made available for the process. If possible, Circuit Appraisal Teams (CATs), District's, Regional's, Provincial's and National's Appraisal Teams set an example to educators at school level. They can do this by being the first to be appraised. School Management Teams and office-based educators could also do the same.