Autonomy, Collaboration and Competition: The Impact of Education Management Reforms which Aim to Increase School Autonomy on Relations between Schools

Urbanovič Jolanta, Navickaitė Jolanta and Dačiulytė Rūta
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Urbanovič Jolanta: Institute of Public Administration, Faculty of Public Governance, Mykolas Romeris University, Lithuania.
Navickaitė Jolanta: Qualifications and Vocational Education and Training Development Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Dačiulytė Rūta: Institute of Leadership and Strategic Management, Faculty of Public Governance, Mykolas Rom-eris University, Lithuania.

NISPAcee Journal of Public Administration and Policy, 2019, vol. 12, issue 1, 175-197

Abstract: In recent decades, the neoliberal education policy has been implemented in many countries, by reducing the state’s role in education management. Lithuania is one of the countries which after the restoration of Independence in 1991 and collapse of the Soviet Union has decentralized its education management system by giving more autonomy to schools and local authorities. Education-management reforms, which have already been implemented or are currently being implemented in response to social, economic and political changes in the country, have an impact on relationships between schools. Purpose: This article reports the findings of a study which reviewed education management reforms aimed at increasing school autonomy and their impact on inter-school collaboration and competition. Research Method: This study employs a qualitative research design with semi-structured interviews. Twenty-four elementary and secondary school principals from different regions of Lithuania were interviewed. Findings: The results reveal that a significant influence on relations between schools comes from government decisions which relate to school autonomy, school choice, allocation of funds, school ranking, and the like. Implications: This study generates discussions on the impact of the education management reforms which aim to enhance school autonomy on inter-school relationships. In order to answer that question, a theoretical model of research was developed, including the theoretical basis of school autonomy, collaboration and competition, as well as the characteristics of Lithuanian education governance.

Keywords: education management reform; decentralization; school autonomy; school collaboration; school competition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:vrs:njopap:v:12:y:2019:i:1:p:175-197:n:8

DOI: 10.2478/nispa-2019-0008

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