The importance of education innovation and degree of innovative practices by principals in rural secondary schools in South Africa

Abstract

After the inception of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000, education emerged as a pivotal concern on the global agenda. The significance of education innovation lies in its ability to enhance the caliber of instruction and bolster school performance. In spite of the various obstacles faced by rural schools in South Africa, certain institutions are exhibiting indications of exceptional performance and advancement in terms of educational innovations, the provision of high-quality education, and the academic achievements of their students. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of principals' comprehension of the significance of educational innovation and their level of implementation of innovative practices on student achievement. The research employed a descriptive case study approach inside a quantitative research framework. A sample size of 108 secondary school principals in the Vhembe District, located in the Limpopo Province, was obtained through the utilization of random sampling procedures. Data collection was conducted through the utilization of questionnaires, while the analysis of the collected data was performed using descriptive statistical techniques. A total of 70 questionnaires were collected and deemed usable, resulting in a response rate of 64.8% for the study. The outcomes of the study indicate that principals within the Vhembe district had a comprehensive understanding of the imperative nature of educational innovation. Additionally, the research revealed that principals are utilizing many new leadership and management approaches in order to improve student achievement. This project aims to contribute to the enhancement of learner performance and the quality of education in secondary schools located in rural parts of South Africa through the promotion of educational innovation. The recommendations of the study hold potential value in the development of policies, the improvement of learner performance, and the provision of education of superior quality.

Rural Entrepreneurship and Innovation in BRICS Economies: Secondary Evidence from Rural Areas in South Africa

“…Other innovation terms are closely related to rural innovation. such as social innovation, agricultural innovation, education innovation, inclusive innovation, innovation at the base of the pyramid, holistic innovation, and frugal innovation (see [12,16,25,30,[38][39][40]). This study focused on rural innovation in a general sense.…”

“…Rural firms and people are risk-averse; Rural innovation activity highly dependent on a support system; Rural innovation is different from agricultural innovation; rural innovators are excluded from policymaking and implementation [12,16,19,21,25,39,44] Little is known about which of the rural innovations are in the energy generation space and which of these innovations can be targeted for government support and enhancement in an attempt to solve the South African energy crisis Little is known about why public and private programs and initiatives that have been introduced to address the identified rural entrepreneurship and innovation challenges are not yielding the desired results…”

“…Similarly, a study by Sinyolo [44] observed that only 35% of the 415 surveyed rural farmers had adopted modern technologies. In the same vein, a study by Ramasimu [39] focusing on education innovation in rural schools of the Limpopo Province revealed that although principals and teachers acknowledged the importance of education innovation in enhancing school performance, principals had to work hard to encourage teachers to take risks and adopt pedagogical related innovations. Moreover, a study conducted in rural areas of the Mpumalanga Province by Rutert and Traynor [25] reported that due to close social relations in rural areas, participants often refrain from entrepreneurship and innovation due to fear of envy and jealousy from their fellow men and women, which may put their lives at risk.…”