Managerial Challenges Among Vocational School Principals

Purpose This study examines how vocational school principals perceive their managerial challenges. This investigation is significant given the paucity of research on this topic and the unique characteristics of vocational schools compared with academic schools. Methods The study draws on semi-structured interviews conducted with 26 vocational school principals in Israel. Data were analyzed using the thematic analysis approach. Findings The findings highlight four distinct managerial challenges: managing the school as a stigmatized organization, providing justifications for vocational education when communicating with stakeholders, making substantial marketing efforts to boost enrollment and avert closure, and prioritizing non-formal educational practices over formal academic ones to address the core needs of vocational students. Implications Our findings shed light on the role of vocational school principals and the broader linkages between vocational schools, social exclusion, and inequality. Developing a clear policy is critical for educational settings marked by social exclusion and for educational institutions facing stigma.