Silent Leadership: Educators’ perceptions of the role of student leadership in the governance of rural secondary schools
Dr M A N Duma

Abstract
The article explored views held by educators on the role of student leadership in the governance of rural secondary schools in South Africa. An argument is presented that although student leadership in schools is taken as a fait accompli, the reality is that in rural schools, this still remains a wishful thinking. Apart from a literature review on educator perceptions on student leadership, empirical investigation based on quantitative research paradigm was used to collect data from educators about their perceptions of the role of student leadership in rural schools. The study is concluded by the submission that it is essential for rural schools to establish student leadership structures and give these structures necessary training so that they can have a working knowledge of school governance, as their participation involves among other things planning, organizing, leading, supervising, decision-making and controlling, which are some of the management duties of school governance structures.

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