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A Systemic Exploration of Lesotho’s Basic Education through Interactive Management

Author

Listed:
  • Masechaba Nthunya

    (World Vision Lesotho)

  • Nien-Tsu Tuan

    (University of Cape Town)

  • Corrinne Shaw

    (University of Cape Town)

  • Ian Jay

    (University of Cape Town)

Abstract

Lesotho is an inland country striving to improve its economy. Accessible education is perceived as an effective approach to economic growth. Over the years, various projects were commenced to improve Lesotho’s basic education provision. However, the progress is not satisfactory or stable. This paper argues for systemic thinking and adopts Warfield’s interactive management to identify the difficulties in Lesotho’s education projects. Interactive management can help stakeholders to identify system elements, structure the relationship between systems elements and produce a diagraph representing the system in question. The core mechanism of interactive management is a binary matrix which can infer the existence of a relationship between system elements, provided that the relationship is transitive. Four root problems were identified through the interactive management process: ‘board members not educated’, ‘poor service delivery by the Ministry of Education and Training to teachers’, ‘food insecurity’ and ‘reduced and standardisation of school fees at post primary schools’. The developed model demonstrates how system elements are interconnected. The model has potential to be used as a starting point for the Lesotho government to manage on its basic education problems through the identified root causes.

Suggested Citation

  • Masechaba Nthunya & Nien-Tsu Tuan & Corrinne Shaw & Ian Jay, 2017. "A Systemic Exploration of Lesotho’s Basic Education through Interactive Management," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 30(3), pages 257-276, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:syspar:v:30:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s11213-016-9396-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11213-016-9396-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alain Mingat & Barbara Bruns & Ramahatra Rakotomalala, 2003. "Achieving universal primary education by 2015 - a chance for every child," Post-Print halshs-00006556, HAL.
    2. Nien-Tsu Tuan & Corrinne Shaw, 2016. "Consideration of Ethics in Systemic Thinking," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 29(1), pages 51-60, February.
    3. Jay W. Forrester, 1968. "Industrial Dynamics--After the First Decade," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 14(7), pages 398-415, March.
    4. Kenneth E. Boulding, 1956. "General Systems Theory--The Skeleton of Science," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 2(3), pages 197-208, April.
    5. Barbara Bruns & Alain Mingat & Ramahatra Rakotomalala, 2003. "Achieving Universal Primary Education by 2015 : A Chance for Every Child," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 15121, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tendai Kanjanda & Nien-Tsu Tuan, 2020. "A Systemic Exploration of the Risk Factors in Zimbabwean Information Technology Projects," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 33(1), pages 77-93, February.
    2. Nien-Tsu Tuan, 2022. "The Other Side of Success Factors—A Systemic Methodology for Exploring Critical Success Factors," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 35(3), pages 441-452, June.

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