Eureka! Institutional Repository

Conflicts are part of school life. Depending on how they are managed, they can lead to creative solutions and give opportunities for progress and learning. The international literature proposes many resolution strategies and is all considered important. For the proper functioning of school structures, the value of communication is recognized both in the learning process and in the organization of their environment. Particularly important is its role for the staff of the school structures in the exercise of their administrative work, but also their responsibility for the effective development of the parties' relations through their daily negotiating interaction. Mediation is presented with its innovative character, based on the principles and values of restorative justice. It is effective in conflict management, creating opportunities for developing communication skills, managing emotions and re-establishing relationships. In the present study, we review the literature on the importance of conflict situations and how they are dealt with, the importance of communication and its use in the workplace and the institution of mediation through theoretical and research approaches. Its purpose is to examine the role of communication and mediation in improving the negotiation process in school organizations through a quantitative survey of school and school unit managers. The knowledge and perceptions of educators / managers regarding the institution of mediation are then investigated and depicted, the need for training in the broader institutional framework of school mediation is revealed, the importance of communication between the manager and the teacher is highlighted and the attempt to explore the the role of the director / teacher as a school mediator. A questionnaire was used to collect the data and a total of 101 people participated.