School Administrators and the Regulatory Framework: A Qualitative Analysis of Legal Competency Gaps

Abstract

This qualitative study examines the legal competence gaps among Colombian school administrators
working in primary and secondary education institutions. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted
with four education professionals (two coordinators, a psychologist, and an English teacher with coordination
experience) to understand their knowledge, experiences, and perceptions of the legislation governing educational
management. Thematic analysis identified patterns in the participants' conceptualizations of administrative law,
labor regulations, student rights, and educational policy. The results indicate a significant gap in formal legal
training. Although participants acknowledged its importance, there were substantial deficiencies in their training.
All interviewees agreed that legal knowledge is important for effective school operation and management, but
only one had completed specialized courses that provided formal legal training. The main themes that emerged
were: (1) education was primarily experiential, based on direct knowledge rather than structured legal training; (2)
they are aware of their legal responsibilities but lack a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory framework.
This study reveals a considerable gap between legal obligations and the capacity of school leaders to fulfill them.
Respondents indicated that a lack of knowledge of the law can lead to unintentional violations, expose educational
institutions to legal liability, and jeopardize students' rights. They also perceive the principal as the institutional
representative responsible for ensuring compliance with the law. The study concludes that mandatory legal
competency training for administrators, as part of their professional development, should be integrated into
mandatory educational governance to guarantee compliance with regulations, institutional and the rights of the educational community. These findings expand our understanding of the professional
development needs of Colombian educational leaders and support the implementation of legal training policies
for school administrators.