| Summary: | D.Ed. (Educational Management) === This research focuses on the conflict and the concomitant disruption experienced in black urban secondary schools in the RSA. The causes, the nature and the extent of such conflict and disruption are indicated, and the attempts thus far, to manage such conflict, are discussed. Attention is also given to alternative methods of managing conflict in an effort to curtail the disruption of schools so that unimpeded meaningful education may take place. The premise is that education is at the centre of conflict in black communities and that unrest and disruption at schools constitutes a specific form of conflict in the South African situation. The variable success rate achieved in attempting to combat conflict in black schools through conventional methods of managing such conflict necessitates a search for alternative conflict management methods in education. This research focuses on the process of mediation as a technique for managing conflict. The main aim is to ascertain whether mediation may be employed to manage conflict in black schools effectively. To achieve this aim, both a study of the literature and analytical research have been carried out by way of a questionnaire and interviews. The use of mediation as a technique for managing conflict in schools overseas and the successes achieved in USA schools are also addressed. The conclusion is drawn that a very real need exists to use mediation as a technique for managing conflict in black schools. This research shows that mediation is both an acceptable and a viable mechanism for the effective management of conflict in black schools. Several recommendations are made on the use of mediation as a technique for minimising conflict and disruption in the field of education. It is recommended, inter alia. that all teacher training programmes should include courses on non-violent conflict management techniques. with the emphasis on mediation. Education authorities should put to use the resources and the skills of all institutions that have managed conflict through mediation.
|
|---|
