Learning Organization Practices in Latvian Schools: Perspectives from School Staff, Students, and Parents

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the current practice of implementing an approach to the school as a learning organzsation (SLO) in general and vocational education in Latvia. The OECD integrated SLO model was used to find out whether there were differences between the opinions of school staff, students, and parents on the current practice of implementing the SLO approach in schools. A concurrent triangulation design was implemented, in which qualitative (school staff, n = 38) and quantitative (students, n = 990; parents, n = 620) data were collected concurrently, followed by a separate data analysis, after which the results of the studies were merged and triangulated. One of the key prerequisites for a school to become a learning organization is leadership, which is implemented on a daily basis by the school principal or an extended school management team. The results of the study indicate that, based on the analysis of students’ and parents’ opinions, learning leadership is one of the weakest dimensions of the SLO. The study also concludes that students’ and parents’ views on learning with and from the external environment and the wider system in their educational institution are not so positive, and that there is a need to raise the awareness of the school staff of the importance of collaboration in the current implementation practice of the SLO approach. It is necessary to ensure that purposeful cooperation and joint action are implemented at the school level to achieve the common goals of the school.