ISSUES IN SCHOOL MANAGEMENT

Centralization vs. Decentralization Practicality of site-based management: Let principals manage their schools Practicality of site-based management: Let principals manage their schools Principals’ autonomy (Example: Cluster school implementation) Principals’ autonomy (Example: Cluster school implementation) Power/autonomy and accountability Power/autonomy and accountability Site-based management: Rhetoric vs. reality Site-based management: Rhetoric vs. reality Site-based management and school achievement? Site-based management and school achievement? Distributed leadership in schools Distributed leadership in schools

School-based/Site-based Management It simply means shifting decision making authority from the central office to schools It simply means shifting decision making authority from the central office to schools Is this practice effective in boosting student achievement? Is this practice effective in boosting student achievement? Is school autonomy alone enough? If not, what other essential factors are involved? (Such as leadership, family and community involvement, professional development, use of date in improvement programs …) Is school autonomy alone enough? If not, what other essential factors are involved? (Such as leadership, family and community involvement, professional development, use of date in improvement programs …) What is the purest form of site-based decision making in the U.S.? Charter schools? What is the purest form of site-based decision making in the U.S.? Charter schools?

School Safety Accountability Issue Emergency management Emergency management Risk management Risk management Litigation issues Litigation issues Sexual harassment of staff and students Sexual harassment of staff and students School-wide prevention plan School-wide prevention plan Safe and drug-free and violence-free schools Safe and drug-free and violence-free schools Schooling crossings and traffic issues Schooling crossings and traffic issues School Climate/culture and productivity School Climate/culture and productivity

11 yr old Muhammad Fakhrul Amin Abdul Rahman being killed by a falling goalpost at SRK Kampung Jawa in Klang on 17 Sept 2011 Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Chairman for The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) slammed schools for lacking initiative in taking safety precautions Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Chairman for The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) slammed schools for lacking initiative in taking safety precautions Section 30 (1) (a) of the OSHA 1994 states that: Section 30 (1) (a) of the OSHA 1994 states that: Every employer shall establish a safety and health committee at a place of work if there are 40 or more persons employed there

The Safe School and Manual: Implementation guide to create a safe school, community and family for children (MOE, 2002) The Safe School and Manual: Implementation guide to create a safe school, community and family for children (MOE, 2002) Elements in the Safe School Program (Among others): School regulations Management of emergencies and disasters Eradication of truancy Prevention of drug and alcohol abuse, and smoking School health services TransportLegislation

Collaboration and Partnerships Definition of school partnerships Definition of school partnerships Understanding of the communities they serve Understanding of the communities they serve Respond to their needs and interests School family partnership School family partnership Barriers to school family/community/business partnerships Barriers to school family/community/business partnerships Collaboration with employers Collaboration with employers

Consumers of Research vs. Researchers Should teachers and administrators continue to be consumer of research Should teachers and administrators continue to be consumer of research Benefits of action research Benefits of action research Using research findings to inform professional practices Using research findings to inform professional practices School leaders to facilitate research among teachers/educators School leaders to facilitate research among teachers/educators

Action research : A balanced model by Patrick T. H. Lim, 2007 Action research : A balanced model by Patrick T. H. Lim, 2007 Identifying research problem Sensitizing: Literature review/analysis of collected data (quantitative and qualitative) Strategising: Developing an action plan Implementing: Carry out the action plan Validating: Analysis of colleted data REporting

Inclusive vs. Exclusive Approach Management of special education – The concept of inclusion Management of special education – The concept of inclusion Streaming practices in schools: Streaming practices in schools: Advantages and disadvantages from different perspectives (Lead to self-fulfilling prophecy) Advantages and disadvantages from different perspectives (Lead to self-fulfilling prophecy) Collaborative leadership structure – participative decision making Collaborative leadership structure – participative decision making

UN Standard Rules for persons with Disabilities states: UN Standard Rules for persons with Disabilities states: States should recognize the principle of equal primary, secondary and tertiary educational opportunities for children, youth, and adults with disabilities in integrated settings. They should ensure that the education of persons with disabilities is an integral part of the educational system. General education authorities are responsible for the education of persons with disabilities in integrated settings. Education for persons with disabilities should form an integral part of national education planning, curriculum development and school organization. States should recognize the principle of equal primary, secondary and tertiary educational opportunities for children, youth, and adults with disabilities in integrated settings. They should ensure that the education of persons with disabilities is an integral part of the educational system. General education authorities are responsible for the education of persons with disabilities in integrated settings. Education for persons with disabilities should form an integral part of national education planning, curriculum development and school organization.

“ … {mainstream} school should accommodate all children regardless of their physical, intellectual, socio-economic, emotional, linguistic, or other conditions. This should include children with disabilities gifted children, privileged and underprivileged, street- and working children, children from remote or nomadic populations, children from linguistic, ethnic or cultural minorities and children from other disadvantaged or marginalized areas or groups” “ … {mainstream} school should accommodate all children regardless of their physical, intellectual, socio-economic, emotional, linguistic, or other conditions. This should include children with disabilities gifted children, privileged and underprivileged, street- and working children, children from remote or nomadic populations, children from linguistic, ethnic or cultural minorities and children from other disadvantaged or marginalized areas or groups”

“mainstream school trying to become inclusive are the most effective means of combating discrimination, creating welcoming, teaching- learning environments, building and inclusive society and achieving Education for All” “mainstream school trying to become inclusive are the most effective means of combating discrimination, creating welcoming, teaching- learning environments, building and inclusive society and achieving Education for All” From: Salamanca Statement (1994) Art 2 and 3 From: Salamanca Statement (1994) Art 2 and 3

Inclusive education is defined as a process of addressing the diverse needs of all learners by reducing barriers to, and within the learning environment Inclusive education is defined as a process of addressing the diverse needs of all learners by reducing barriers to, and within the learning environment Inclusive education is “about enabling schools to serve all children (UNESCO, 1994) Inclusive education is “about enabling schools to serve all children (UNESCO, 1994) The marginalized groups: The marginalized groups: Disabled children Girls Children in remote villages The very poor

Educational Reforms: Mandatory Change vs. Change from Within Top down change initiatives/programs Top down change initiatives/programs Why did most school reforms fail? Why did most school reforms fail? Management of school-based change Management of school-based change School policy and change School policy and change Benchmarking, standardizing, key performance indicators/index and etc. – Lead to more rigorous academic standards Benchmarking, standardizing, key performance indicators/index and etc. – Lead to more rigorous academic standards Guiding reforms through assessment and data analysis Guiding reforms through assessment and data analysis Sustaining change: Factors affecting it! Sustaining change: Factors affecting it!

Gender Issues in Management Break the glass ceiling: Discrimination Break the glass ceiling: Discrimination Teachers touching children: Sexual harassment Teachers touching children: Sexual harassment Boys are doing poorly in schools Boys are doing poorly in schools Mrs. Brown vs. The lady principal Mrs. Brown vs. The lady principal Feminism in the teaching profession Feminism in the teaching profession Leadership among female leaders Leadership among female leaders

Valued-ended Leadership Principals providing moral leadership Principals providing moral leadership Principals as educators Principals as educators Principals as community builders – Creating community of learning within schools Principals as community builders – Creating community of learning within schools The concept of ‘No Child Left Behind NCLB) The concept of ‘No Child Left Behind NCLB) Creating school that serve moral purposes Creating school that serve moral purposes School leaders to educational leaders School leaders to educational leaders Charismatic school leaders Charismatic school leaders Leading by heart Leading by heart

Principalship Principal preparation program Principal preparation program National Qualification for Headship (NPQH …) National Qualification for Headship (NPQH …) Socialization processes for early headship/induction programs Socialization processes for early headship/induction programs Middle leadership in schools Middle leadership in schools Developing school leaders through mentoring Developing school leaders through mentoring Best practices for educational management and leadership Best practices for educational management and leadership