The setting-up of multi-site school collaboratives: The benefits of this organizational reform in terms of networking opportunities and their effects

Denise Mifsud

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    3 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    This article, which is set within the Maltese education scenario of unfolding decentralization through the setting-up of multi-site school collaboratives (legally termed ‘colleges’) via a policy mandate, explores a particular aspect of this reform – that of ‘networking’. This is examined in terms of the potential for ‘networking’ that educational leaders have at both school and college levels and the ‘effects’ of these (non-)opportunities on both the leaders and the network itself. My study is framed within a postmodern paradigm and interpreted through a Foucauldian theoretical framework. Data for this case study are collected via semi-structured, in-depth interviews; participant observation; and documentary analysis; which are then subjected to narrative analysis. The findings reveal a very detached bond within and across levels, with this detachment unfolding simultaneously within both micro and macro strata. This article, besides theoretically addressing a gap in literature regarding the shortcomings of networks and network dynamics, has a particular significance for educational practitioners, policy makers, and all those who have school improvement on their agenda.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)236-249
    Number of pages14
    JournalImproving Schools
    Volume18
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2015

    Keywords

    • Collaboration
    • Decentralization
    • education reform
    • Foucauldian theory
    • networking
    • school networks

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