Leadership in fostering vocational school partnerships in the time of COVID-19

Abstract

This paper sought to explore school leadership practices, the management of school partnerships with the industry, and the challenges faced in implementing partnerships during the COVID-19 pandemic. Embracing an exploratory research design including a sequential model, the present research involved 89 principals, vice principals, and productive teachers from government-funded secondary schools who directly engage in the management of school partnerships with the industry. Findings reveal that school leadership practices implemented a participatory approach. School management was employed to optimize the role of vice principals, program heads, and productive teachers. The challenge of establishing partnerships during the COVID-19 pandemic lies in implementing an independent learning policy assisted by information and communication technology.