| Managing the human resources available
at a school is probably the most important task of a school
head. In any country the major portion of the national budget
allocated to education is spent on paying personnel. The success,
therefore, of any school programme depends on how efficiently
the school head can deploy this important resource for the best
use of the school.
The recognition of personnel management as an important element
of the school head's daily activities, and the increasing
emphasis on in-service training for teachers, has led to an
increased interest in the field of staff development. The
school head being often viewed as a 'manager of people', it
is evident that the skills associated with personnel management
can assist him or her in managing the school more efficiently.
The purpose of this module is to introduce the school head
to a number of skills and techniques that can lead to a more
sympathetic management of staff members. This requires a variety
of skills that might include the keeping of records, identifying
training needs, dealing with unions, problem-solving, motivation,
staff appraisal, and a whole host of related activities.
Individual study time : 24 hours
Objectives
After working through this module you should be able to:
• ù identify and select staff members to be appointed
to your school
• identify training needs and plan training programmes
to meet these needs
• motivate your colleagues
• introduce a system of staff appraisal and supervision
relevant to your school
• manage a system of staff records and meetings
• manage conflict situations.
Units
This module is divided into eight units.
Unit 1: Staff selection
3 hours
This unit aims to assist you in selecting staff members to
the school.
Unit 2: Staff development
3 hours
Through this unit you will be able to identify the training
needs of your staff, and plan training programmes to meet
these needs.
Unit 3: Staff motivation
3 hours
The important subject of motivating staff members to achieve
their best, often under difficult circumstances, is the topic
of this unit.
Unit 4: Staff appraisal
3 hours
Appraisal is directed towards helping a teacher become as
effective as possible in the teaching/learning process. In
this unit you will learn why and how staff appraisal should
be carried out.
Unit 5: Staff supervision
and discipline
3 hours
Because all the activities of the school remain your responsibility,
you need to ensure that delegated tasks are actually carried
out on time, and in a proper manner. Therefore, you need to
supervise, to oversee, the work of others in the school. Here
you will learn to apply specific methods of supervision and
discipline in your work situation.
Unit 6: Keeping staff records
3 hours
Records in a school contain important information about school
administration and the staff. In this unit you will specifically
look at one element of record keeping, that of staff records.
Unit 7: Managing meetings
3 hours
Time is an important resource to a school head, and not to
be wasted. In this unit you will learn to identify some techniques
for conducting meetings more efficiently.
Unit 8: Managing conflict
3 hours
Conflict can become physically and emotionally damaging, or
it can lead to growth and productivity for all parties. In
this unit you will discuss what conflict is, and how it can
be resolved.
Contributors
This module was written by a team in Namibia:
Mr Len le Roux Deputy Director, The R"ssing
(Team Facilitator) Foundation
Mr Alfred Ilukena Chief Inspector, Ministry of Education and
Culture
Dr Robert West Chief Education Officer, Secondary Schools
Mrs Jeanne Averia Head teacher, Namibia English Primary School
Mrs Miriam Truebody Director, Private Sector Foundation
Dr Rosemary Davis Management adviser, National Institute
for Educational Development
Mr Lloyd Ulrich Director, Otjikondo School Village Foundation
Mr Tjekere Tweya Chief Education Officer, Windhoek Region
In addition, support for the development of this module was
provided by the national teachers' union (NANTU), by trainers
involved in a school head training programme nationwide and
school heads attending these courses. |
