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Developing leadership skills in Peruvian high school students
Morales, César
Morales, César
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Date
2024
Educational Level
ISCED Level 3 Upper Secondary Education
Curriculum Area
Geographical Setting
Peru
Abstract
Context: The research focuses on the development of leadership skills among high school students at Colegio San Andres in Lima, Peru, highlighting the country's diverse cultural attitudes and the challenges faced concerning effective leadership. The study recognizes that understanding cultural influences on leadership perceptions is crucial, as it shapes both students' and teachers' ideas of what constitutes effective leadership.
Aims: The primary aim is to explore the perceptions of senior students regarding leadership and to identify essential components for a leadership training program tailored to their needs. Specifically, the study intends to contrast these views with those held by their teachers, thereby ensuring that the program addresses the actual needs and expectations of students.
Methods: The study employs qualitative methods, including focus groups and interviews, to gather data from senior students and teachers. Two focus groups, comprising 6 to 10 participants each, engage in discussions based on standardized open-ended questions to explore their perspectives on leadership. Additionally, interviews with two teachers provide a comparative analysis of leadership perceptions between students and educators.
Findings: The findings reveal that both groups acknowledge the potential for effective leadership in Peru, favoring people-oriented characteristics such as integrity and good communication. Students exhibit more optimism regarding the future compared to their teachers, reflecting possible disillusionment among adults. Both students and teachers agree on the necessity of a leadership program but differ in their preferences for its content, emphasizing practical experiences over theoretical teachings.
Implications: The study suggests that effective leadership development requires the active collaboration of all stakeholders within the school. It underscores the importance of listening to student voices and adapting educational policies to foster an environment where they can exercise their leadership potential. Other educators may glean insights into the value of integrating student feedback into leadership training initiatives to promote significant and positive change within educational institutions.
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Keywords (free text)
leadership development, student perspectives, cultural influences, qualitative methods, collaborative learning