Management of the Dethronement of Mediocrity to Enthrone Excellence in Limpopo Public Secondary Schools

Abstract

This paper explores what it takes for the underperforming secondary school to bounce back from underachievement to high performance. The  paper was motivated by diverse discourses narrating that school underperformance appears, disappears and reappears. This paper is conceptual  and empirical in nature within the qualitative research paradigm. The research question guiding this paper is: what enables secondary schools to  revert to underperformance after bouncing back? Interviewing technique and literature study were used to collect data. Out of the population of 13  secondary schools in one of the circuits in Sekhukhune district in Limpopo Province, South Africa, 3 were conveniently sampled. In each of the  secondary school, a Deputy Principal, an SGB Deputy Chairperson and an RCL Deputy Chairperson became research participants. Findings revealed  that firstly, monitored extra lessons are essential. Secondly, adoption of underperforming pupils helps. Thirdly, profiling of pupils is beneficial.  Fourthly, Emphasising hard work in the culture of a school helps. Fifthly, screening of teachers for habits and attitudes helps. Lastly, stopping union  activities from disturbing  schooling, helps. The researcher recommends for the stabilisation of the secondary schooling sector in the form of  maintaining the teaching and learning basics in order to thrive in dethroning the teaching mediocrity and succeed in enthroning high performance  of every learner.