%0 Journal Article
%A Ahmed, Mohamed
%A Dhaal Atoll Education Centre, Maldives,
%D 2015
%F iab_repo:473
%I Institut Aminuddin Baki
%J PROCEEDINGS 3rd REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
%K holistic education, co-curricular activities, transformational leadership
%P 92-114
%T DE-SHIFTING TO SINGLE SESSION SCHOOLS: PROSPECTS AND  PROBLEMS IN SCHOOLS OF MALDIVES
%U http://eprints.iab.edu.my/v2/473/
%X Schools offer a variety of programs to help out students grow holistically. Double  session schools transformed to single session claim to provide holistic education and  a conducive environment for the students. This study explores how holistic  educational programs are facilitated in context of single session schools. It also  attempts to examine the programs offered, conditions enable or hinder in facilitating  these programs, and the role of school principals in the implementation of holistic  education. Semi-structured interview was employed on six principals from small,  medium, and large single session schools in terms of students’ enrolment. The data  obtained from the interviews were coded and organized according to the research  questions. The research revealed that reforms were not incorporated into the  curriculum and educational programs in the schools, except few schools brought  restructuring to co-curricular activities. The findings revealed that principal’s  leadership, namely transformational leadership played a vital role in facilitating  holistic educational programs in single session schools. The findings provide insight  into lack of space, limited human resource capacity, inadequate need-based  resourcing, and rapid change in government policies which hinder implementation of  holistic education. The study concluded that transforming all schools as single  session schools alone, do not provide holistic education unless educational programs  balance knowledge with skills and values. Implications of the findings were discussed  in the context of educational leadership and holistic education. Consequently,  suggestions for future research were also explored.