A Correlation between Teachers’ Social and Pedagogical Competences and School Culture

Maja Brust Nemet

Summary:  Teachers’ social and pedagogical competences and school cultures are the key factors for lifelong learning and necessary for the successful work of a qualified teacher who takes responsible for her/his students’ achievement. Through lifelong learning, teachers change themselves, upgrade their own competences, and create a positive school culture characterised by human relationships, coexistence, collaboration and trust. The aim of this research was to identify and examine whether there is a correlation between school teachers’ socio-pedagogical competences and the school culture. It also aimed to learn about the position and role of people who may have an influence on the socio-pedagogical competences and the school culture. This study used a quantitative approach and involved 696 teachers in 30 primary schools in five Slavonian counties in Croatia. The results of the completed survey questionnaires demonstrate that there is a statistically significant relationship between the teachers’ socio-pedagogical competences and the school culture. Formal education, lifelong learning and family relations have a great influence on the acquisition of the social and pedagogical competences, whereas the quality of communication, cooperation and collegiality have a powerful influence on the school culture.