Centralised Control: A Barrier to Shared Decision-making in Egyptian Secondary Schools

This article reports on findings from a larger qualitative research study on shared decisionmaking (SDM) in Egyptian schools. The main aim of the study was to identify barriers to SDM in Egypt's secondary schools, using qualitative data collected from nine general secondary schools in the Damietta governorate, Egypt. Data were collected through interviews with 85 research participants,
including head teachers, deputy heads, heads of department. Board of Trustees members and newly appointed teachers. The data analysis revealed various barriers that interact and hinder the involvement of teachers in the decision-making process at the school level. While cultural factors presented themselves strongly as potential barriers to such involvement, centralised control over
schools was perceived by many participants as significantly more influential.