Interaction is key in educational institutions’ crisis management

PRESS RELEASE

A new research publication titled “Exploring crisis management measures taken by school leaders at the unpredictable crisis – case COVID-19” was published on October 30 in the Journal of Educational Change.

In 2020, the sudden spread of the COVID-19 virus created an unexpected crisis situation for educational institutions. Crisis management efforts by school leaders became crucial as they worked to continue operations in a rapidly changing environment for which schools were unprepared. Schools had to transform into remote learning units, which not only required the creation of entirely new operational models for education but also significantly impacted the well-being of both students and teachers.

The purpose of the study was to gain an understanding of the role and responsibilities of school leaders during the first months of the COVID-19 crisis in 2020. The pandemic was perceived as a crisis by schools, making crisis management measures taken by school leaders highly significant. The threats posed by the crisis to school safety were multifaceted. The study’s main research question was: What crisis management tasks did school leaders face during the first months of the COVID-19 crisis in 2020?

The study employed a narrative literature review of international research literature. Based on the synthesis, school leaders’ crisis management efforts focused on four key tasks: maintaining organizational functions, supporting teachers’ ability to work, ensuring students’ ability to learn, and interacting with external stakeholders. Interaction proved to be a critical tool for navigating the crisis. Providing emotional support and ensuring the mental well-being of both teachers and students were essential measures. In a societal crisis, it was also necessary to maintain communication and collaboration with external actors beyond the school environment.

The study’s findings suggest that schools need to improve their crisis resilience. Developing crisis plans for various scenarios is essential for better preparedness and crisis response.

For more information:

Doctoral Researcher Jussi-Pekka Peltola, jpspel@utu.fi

Peltola, J.-P., Lindfors, E., & Luukka, E. (2024). Exploring crisis management measures taken by school leaders at the unpredictable crisis – case COVID-19. Journal of Educational Change. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10833-024-09516-x