“DEVOLUTION”: SELF- MANAGEMENT FOR TERRITORY SCHOOLS C. A. CAMERON A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts, Northern Territory University, for the degree of Master of Arts. March 1996 Copyright © 1996 Faculty of Arts, Northern Territory University This PDF has been automatically generated and though we try and keep as true to the original as possible, some formatting, page numbering and layout elements may have changed. Please report any problems to
[email protected]. DECLARATION The work present in this thesis is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, original, except as acknowledged in the text. The material has not been submitted, either in whole or in part, for an award at this or any other university. C. A. CAMERON ABSTRACT Local self-management, popularly known as devolution, is a political initiative in English-speaking nations over the last couple of decades taken to promote community participation in education. In Australia, state and territory governments are responsible to provide public education services but with this policy they devolve decision-making, management and responsibility, as considered appropriate, to the local level. Functions that are devolved to be performed locally, in the school communities, are managed within parameters established by the governments and as directed, supported and monitored through arrangements made in their respective systems for these purposes. The policy of self-management in education has aroused contention. This has resulted primarily from a publicly perceived ‘rhetoric/reality gap’, wherein governments are seen to advocate ‘devolution’ as educationally beneficial for children but actually institute it as a cost-cutting strategy.