| Abstract [eng] |
The topic of this Master's thesis is Experiences of the reform of the general education school network: administrative and pedagogical changes. The study is relevant in the context of Lithuanian education policy, where the reform of the school network aims to ensure quality, social equity and accessibility of education. However, the actual results of the changes are often limited to quantitative indicators and there is a lack of data on how the transformation affects the quality of education, the experiences of school communities and the reduction of exclusion. The main problem of the study is the lack of knowledge about how administrative and pedagogical changes in the context of school network restructuring are implemented in specific municipalities. There is a lack of data to assess what factors make the reform successful or challenging and how these changes affect the experiences of school communities. There is also a lack of empirical research showing the impact of the transformation on the quality of education and social equity at local level. The study addresses the following questions: how does the restructuring of the school network affect administrative and pedagogical processes, and what challenges and opportunities does it create for school communities in the municipalities of Akmenė and Joniškis? The study focuses on the experiences of the development of the general education school network restructuring in the municipalities of Akmenė and Joniškis. The aim of the study is to reveal how administrative and pedagogical changes implemented during the restructuring of the network of general education schools affect access to education, quality and social justice, based on the experiences of municipalities in the Akmenė and Joniškis districts. Objectives of the study: 1. Analyze theoretical aspects of the reorganization of the general education school network, revealing administrative and pedagogical changes. 2. Reveal the experiences of school administrators in the municipalities of Akmenė and Joniškis in evaluating the planning and decision-making process of the school network reorganization. 3. To describe the origin of administrative decisions on the restructuring of the school network in the municipalities of Akmenė and Joniškis and their compliance with educational needs (from the perspective of school administrators' experience). 4. To evaluate the administrative decisions on the reorganization of the school network in the municipalities of Akmenė and Joniškis in terms of improving the quality of education (from the perspective of school principals' experience). 5. To reveal changes in teachers' daily educational practices in the context of the reorganization of the school network in the municipalities of Akmenė and Joniškis (from the perspective of school administrators and teachers). The research methodology is based on social constructivism. The study used a literature review, semi-structured interviews and group discussion. Data analysis was based on a systematic qualitative content analysis approach. The sample consisted of heads and teachers of general education schools in Akmenė and Joniškis districts, selected through purposive sampling. The results show that successful reform requires community involvement, smooth dissemination of information and effective leadership. While administrative changes are often associated with financial efficiency, pedagogical aspects such as learning environments, collaboration and professional development opportunities are crucial to the long-term success of the reform. The findings show that the success of reform depends on the quality of decision-making, leadership and the ability to take into account local conditions and needs. Key words: school network reform, administrative change, pedagogical change, quality of education. |
