Trust among teachers and educational counsellors in the Arab education system

Abstract

Abstract This research investigated the perceptions of trust expressed by teachers and educational counsellors in the Arab education system in Israel, and aimed to answer the following questions: (1) How do the teachers and counsellors perceive the concept of ‘trust in schools’? (2) How is trust expressed in practice in the school? (3) Which factors are seen as assisting the formation of trust, or inhibiting the development of trust in school? To answer these questions, we interviewed five female educational counsellors and twenty teachers (ten men and ten women) from different schools in the Arab education system. The research revealed four foundations for the creation of trust in the schools: substantive autonomy that helps to foster teachers’ leadership; the school decision-making mechanism; an organizational culture that promotes egalitarian and just team work; and expression of gratitude and admiration. The paper concludes with implications for trust building in schools.