A school in a state of inertia emphasises the problems bedevilling the teaching profession while downplaying the efficacy of the teaching profession in problem-solving and the cultivation of positive attitudes among students. The right attitude determines the altitude of a school. Schools should not only be anchored on hope but on the execution of a school turnaround plan focusing on maximising students’ gains in a teaching and learning setting. The journey towards academic prosperity begins with setting high expectations for students and staff. Schools should never doubt the power of teachers to teach and the ability of students to learn.
It is saddening, however, to note that many underachieving public schools are stuck in a quagmire of inertia. It is extremely difficult to alter the performance trajectory of a school that has allowed low achievement to become the norm rather than an exception. Schools that have lost hope or are experiencing mission drift, more often than not, find the challenges standing in the way of academic excellence overwhelmingly difficult to navigate. Working in a school that is suffering from mission adrift can be a daunting experience, especially for young and inexperienced teachers harbouring ambitions and dreams of academic prosperity.
