School governance and the South African education system received a huge boost with the publication of a guide that makes the King Principles of good governance accessible to public schools. Governance in public schools – A guide to the application of the King Principles in public schools is the realisation of a dream of many years for the Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools (FEDSAS).
         
The King III Report, the third version of the King Committee’s principles for good governance and ethical leadership, is internationally recognised as one of the best governance codes in the world. It is created, published and owned by the Institute of Directors of Southern Africa (IoDSA).
         
“Since King III was introduced in 2009 FEDSAS starting dreaming about and planning for a guide that encapsulates these principles for public schools. We wanted to bring King III and schools closer together,” says Mr Paul Colditz, CEO of FEDSAS. Colditz says in the King Principles FEDSAS saw a solution for some of the biggest challenges facing school governance, namely a lack of ethical leadership and a lack of good and universally acceptable standards of governance. “Poor governance and management practices are often the difference between a dysfunctional school and a successful school,” says Colditz.
         
In an effort to realise its dream, FEDSAS approached the IoDSA to collaborate on the publication of such a guide. The CEO of the FEDSAS Institute for School Governance, Dr Derek Swemmer, headed this project to compile an understandable and practical guide based on the King Principles for school governors. The project also received the support of the Department of Basic Education. The guide enables school governing bodies to comply with the stipulations of the Schools’ Act, but also to go one step further in complying with the King Principles. This creates the opportunity for good schools to become great schools.
         
The challenges facing school governing bodies are not unique to education. Although South Africa has one of the best management codes in the world, practical application is often lacking. “There are about 300 000 school governors in South Africa. Just imagine the impact this could have on the South African society if so many people are exposed to some of the world’s foremost practices in governance, management and leadership. And it goes further than education – it provides us with the opportunity to develop the leaders of the future in order for them to play a meaningful role in South Africa,” says Colditz.
         
The guide forms part of FEDSAS’ commitment to positive citizenship. “We are involved with the future of our children, and consequently the future of the country, on a daily basis and everyone at FEDSAS is aware of the potential. For schools to unlock this potential, good leadership is not negotiable. FEDSAS is excited about the future of South Africa and this guide is the organisation’s way of putting its money where its mouth is,” says Colditz.