فریبا عدلی

The role of culture in planning and implementing educational reforms and in impacting the quality of the education system has rarely been discussed. This study aims to identify the features of culture in governmental primary schools for girls in Iran aged 7‒12 years. Using an ethnographic approach, qualitative data were collected and analysed. The data were collected based on a triangulation strategy, through observation, in-depth interviews with teachers, and content analysis of the Document for Fundamental Transformation of the Education System. Thematic analysis was used to discover, analyse, and interpret the pattern of data meanings. The findings reveal that specific components represent the culture of these schools: a uniform education system, bureaucratic structure of schools, square-shape architecture of schools, national curriculum, arbitrary relationships between members of the school community, and the professional development of teachers based on the top-down command. The shared values of school members and behaviour norms are concerned with the exact execution of policies and plans issued in the form of circulars from the Ministry of Education, which shape the daily activities of school members; this has led to the emergence of a culture of obedience, wherein the members comply with the expectations, prescribed policies, and plans set by the Ministry of Education. Although studies acknowledge the importance of identifying cultural context, school culture has rarely been investigated in governmental primary schools for girls in Iran. This study highlights the role of education policymakers in maintaining and solidifying the existing culture in these schools.

This research was conducted with the aim of identifying the characteristics of knowledge leaders in Tehran schools. Based on this objective, the study was conducted using a qualitative method. Data was collected through triangulation, including semi-structured interviews with administrators and teachers of all-girls secondary schools and knowledge management specialists, observation of schools and the study of relevant documents. Interviews were conducted with 28 people using criterion-based sampling method and 8 schools were observed in the areas under study using sequential sampling method. The Document of the Fundamental Evolution of Education and the Regulations for the selection and appointment of school administrators were also reviewed. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The characteristics of the school administrator as a knowledge leader were categorized into 3 main classes including: knowledge network builder, knowledge guardian and school knowledge flow facilitator, and 10 subcategories. The emergence of knowledge leaders in the schools under study requires the following criteria: development of a digital physical space in the school, financing and sufficient educational budget, development and training of school administrators for the role of knowledge leaders, reforming the conditions for the selection and appointment of school administrators, granting independence and freedom of action to school managers, scientific and practical directives and instructions. It is suggested that professional development programs for school administrators should be developed and implemented, and the renovation of the public space of classrooms and school libraries based on knowledge literature should have a place on the agenda of the Ministry of Education.