Trailblazing through turmoil: Exploring crisis management policy and governance of high school principals in Nepal
Author Identifier (ORCID)
Shankar Dhakal: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9293-0958
Abstract
Two recent disasters significantly impacted Nepal’s schooling communities: the 2015 earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic. The devastating earthquake caused widespread infrastructure damage, creating unsafe school conditions and challenging principals to devise disaster-based management policies. Similarly, the pandemic forced extended school closures, severely disrupting learning outcomes and widening educational disparities. This qualitative study examines the critical role of effective principals in managing crises and promoting school community resilience. Through semi-structured interviews with six purposively selected public secondary principals, the research critically analyses their leadership strategies during these crises. Despite facing limited resources, communication barriers, role ambiguity, and political interference, findings highlight principals’ resilience and resourcefulness in maintaining educational continuity. The study informs stakeholders about strategies for building safer, more resilient schooling communities capable of withstanding future challenges through adaptive leadership and comprehensive support systems.
Keywords
educational leadership, crisis management, school resilience, disaster response, Covid-19, secondary education
Document Type
Book Chapter
Date of Publication
1-1-2026
Publication Title
Routledge International Handbook of Schooling in Times of Crisis
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
School
School of Education
Copyright
subscription content
First Page
421
Last Page
433
Comments
Dhakal, S., & Khanal, J. (2026). Trailblazing through turmoil: Exploring crisis management policy and governance of high school principals in Nepal. In N. Barnes, S. Riddle, B. Hughes, J. Hughes, & B. Beabout (Eds.), The Routledge international handbook of schooling in times of crisis (pp. 421–433). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003543008-36