Management problems at underachieving township secondary schools in the Free State

Principals of secondary schools in townships are experiencing increasing management problems. The situation is exacerbated by the rapid changes taking place in education and the promotion of inexperienced teachers to the position of principal. This article attempts to identify the management problems experienced by principals of township secondary schools which obtained a pass rate of 40% or less for more than three years prior to 2002. The study found that these principals experience innumerable problems which have a negative influence on academic achievement and which must be resolved.