Perceived Effectiveness of Choosing Prefects Using Interviews: A Case of a Private High School in Harare, Zimbabwe

The study assessed the effectiveness of choosing student leaders based on interviews as a shift from the traditional mode whereby school administrators appoint student leaders in secondary schools. The study is underpinned by the Rational Choice Theory by Adam Smith which posits that individuals make choices based on weighing the costs and benefits. This study adopted a qualitative case study design. The sample comprised purposively sampled aspiring students who applied to be interviewed for the student leadership positions. Ethical protocols were observed before the data was collected. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect the data. Data was transcribed and coded accordingly. Inductive thematic data analysis was used.

Findings indicate that there are pros and cons of using interviews in selecting student leaders. However, the majority of the respondents indicated that despite the setbacks of using interviews in the selection of prefects it is the right direction to go; schools should move with the times and adopt contemporary electoral modes that are used in their societal contexts whereby leaders are selected as opposed to being appointed by the school administration. The study recommends that secondary schools develop user-friendly instruments (such as interviews, voting etc) that are free and fair to select prefects democratically from the students’ body.