Mid-level leadership practices in third shift coordinators of youth and adult education in Chile

Abstract

Education for young people and adults (EPJA) constitutes a permanent challenge for public policies and educational management in Chile. This situation is evident in a varied set of challenges posed by the strengthening of this modality: overcoming the lack of material resources, the preparation of teachers and management teams, the formal recognition and support of the existing coordination positions in the modality, are some of them. Under this framework, this article seeks to investigate the practices of adult schools “EPJA Tercera Jornada” in Chile, old night schools, coordinators, understanding them as key actors with regard to the governance and leadership of the modality and not only as middle leaders. The methodology considered for gathering qualitative information through online interviews with coordinators and teachers, as well as virtual accompaniments. The main findings focus on the fact that coordinators develop practices simultaneously linked to pedagogical, training and resource management in the institutions, which far exceeds the characteristics that the literature has defined as middle leaders.