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ERIC Number: ED351770
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1992-Jul
Pages: 21
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Devolution: Evolution or Revolution?
Trestrail, Colin
Issues raised by the devolution of decision-making to the school level in Western Australia are described in this paper. The first part provides a background of governance structures and school organization. Prior to 1980, Western Australia had the most centralized system of educational administration in Australia. The second part describes the agents of change: the Beazley Committee of Enquiry, corporate management, and the Minister of Education. Outcomes of the educational revolution are described in the third part; those outcomes include an increase in principals' out-of-school responsibilities, devolution of responsibility to the school level, development of unit curriculum, computerization, and a written agreement between teachers and the Education ministry. The fourth part examines administrative stresses: the rapid pace of change; lack of expertise and training; recent moves toward recentralization; and government/teachers' union disputes. The fifth part explores some possible solutions and speculates on the pace and direction of further change. In conclusion, devolution could be successful if administrators and their staffs are allowed time to make it work. (Contains 20 references.) (LMI)
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Opinion Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A