Concept and Background of Educational Management
Planning,
directing, and overseeing all the activities and resources required to meet
academic objectives is known as educational management. Creating regulations,
planning strategies, and building an efficient educational system are the
primary goals of educational management in order to provide a supportive
atmosphere for both employees and students.
The
internal workings of educational institutions—which function in a dynamic
environment—are the focus of educational management. As a result, educational
establishments need to continuously recognize and apply setup improvements.
“Educational management is the theory and practice of the organization and
administration of existing educational establishments and systems,” claim
G. Terry Page and J. B. Thomas.
In
the early years of the 20th century, educational management as a topic of study
first emerged in the United States. In the UK, development didn’t start until
the 1960s. As the name suggests, educational management is practiced in
educational settings.
• Education: The ultimate purpose of education is to make students effective
members of society by giving them a variety of learning experiences that will
convey knowledge, attitudes, and skills. “To manage is to forecast and plan, to
organize, to command, to coordinate, and to control,” states Henry Fayol.
The
five processes of management, according to Fayol, are organizing, coordinating,
commanding, and planning.
Therefore, the definition of educational management is any form of management
that facilitates the planning, organizing, directing, and control of an
institution’s operations while making the best use of its material and human
resources to carry out its educational tasks, including teaching, extension
work, and research.
Therefore, institutions (schools and colleges), human resources (teachers and non-teachers, students, parents, and other stakeholders), material resources (infrastructure, equipment, etc.), laws, regulations, policies, society, etc. are all covered under educational management. It aids in achieving the aims and objectives of education.
Nature of Educational Management
The
following qualities or aspects of management are debatable:
1. Universal Process of Educational Management: The process of
educational management is universal. It has something to do with every nation,
community, organization, etc. Every sector, including commerce, the military,
religion, and interpersonal relationships, may require administration.
2. The art of educational management: Koontz claims that because
management involves relying on people to do tasks, it has come to be regarded
as an art form. As a result, in addition to knowing management concepts, a
manager must also possess empathy, patience, good manners, experience, behavioral
skills, etc.
3. Educational
Management is a social science: Educational Management is a social
science because it also collects data by using the methods observation,
experimentation, explanation etc. Like Political science, Economics, Sociology
etc.
4. Educational
Management is a profession: Educational Management can also be regarded as
a profession. Because in each and every profession, to manage the activities
effectively, he should have some particular qualities like, preparation, behavioral
skill, patience etc.
5. The Study of
Educational Management Is Multidisciplinary: The study of management is
multidisciplinary as well. Since management involves concepts, ideas, and
abilities that are also related to economics, mathematics, psychology,
anthropology, sociology, and other fields.
6. Educational
management is a dynamic process: Because the guiding principles of
educational management are subject to change over time, it is possible to think
of educational management as a continuous or dynamic process. Every sector of
the economy, including education, is constantly evolving in response to new
laws and initiatives. Thus, management is a dynamic process.
7. Goal-Oriented
Management: Every managerial job is goal-oriented. This includes
educational management. Specific goals serve as a roadmap for effective
management. The process of organizing, planning, leading, and instructing in
order to accomplish any objectives is known as educational management. Reaching
the predetermined goals is management’s main goal. So, “Anything without
management is nothing,” say Sherlekar & Sherlekar.
8. Managing Education
is a Group Task: Since educational management requires a group of people to
work together toward shared objectives, it is a group activity. It gives
members of the organization guidance on how to accomplish its goals and assists
them in understanding its purposes and objectives.
9.
Educational management is a social process: Because it places greater
emphasis on societal responsibility and benefit, it is a social process.
Scope of Educational Management
The
following are some of the various facets of educational management that fall
under the scope of this field and can be discussed:
1) Supplying Human Resources:
The provision of human resources in educational institutions is one of the key
facets in the field of educational management. The staff, pupils, and teachers
are the many categories of human resources. Parents and other individuals
connected to the educational institution are also included in the human
resources department. The purview of educational management includes supplying,
organizing, and utilizing these resources for educational institutions.
2) Providing Material Resources: Providing material resources, such
as land or a building, a classroom, furnishings, instructional aids, a library, a lab, a museum, etc. in an educational institution, is another crucial component of the scope of educational management.
3) Curriculum construction: Another facet of educational management’s purview is curriculum construction, which is based on interest, needs, and capacity.
4)
Co-curricular activity organization: Co-curricular activity organization
is necessary to assist children develop physically, emotionally, spiritually,
academically, and morally—the main objective of education, which is the
all-around development of the personality. One of the key facets of the scope
of educational management is the organization of extracurricular activities for
educational institutions.
5) Timetable
Preparation: Another crucial part of the scope of educational
administration is timetable preparation, which includes organizing the
teacher’s daily class assignments, planning the schedule for extracurricular
activities, and creating the academic calendar for educational institutions.
6)
Sustaining Discipline: Another crucial component of educational
management’s purview is the maintenance of discipline inside educational
institutions.
7) Hostel and staff quarter organization, etc.: Another crucial area of educational management is the organization of hostels and staff quarters for teachers.
8) Budgeting and Finance: Another crucial aspect of managing an
educational institution is creating a budget for the costs associated with
establishing a building, auditorium, library, laboratory, equipment, etc. and
managing the funds associated with these purchases.
9) Evaluation: An essential component of educational administration is the assessment of the various plans in order to meet the objective of education.
10) Coordination: Another aspect of educational administration is the
coordination of an organization’s various resources.
Types of Educational Management
Different approaches to educational management
have an impact on how institutions and students develop in the future.
- Centralized Educational
Management
- Decentralized Educational
Management
- External and Internal Educational
Management
- Autocratic and Democratic Educational
management
Let’s examine each kind of management technique and have a deeper
understanding of it.
Centralized
Educational Management
In
this, the whole authority and power to manage the educational system is vested
in one individual. Every decision is made at the highest level by a single
individual, who then directs action at lower levels.
Decentralized
Education Management
The
transfer of power and authority from centralized management to all tiers of
management, including school administrators, is referred to as educational
management. For instance, significant policies are decided upon by upper
management, while required adjustments are made by middle and lower management.
Internal
and External Educational Management
Only
those who are actually in charge of overseeing each educational program are
involved in internal educational management. Planning, organizing,
coordinating, supervising, managing, administering, and reviewing are all tasks
that these people manage.
Conversely, external educational management refers to a management style when
external organizations or government agencies oversee policies and other
aspects of educational institutions. It entails managing teacher preparation
initiatives, curriculum development, and other things.
Autocratic
and Democratic Educational Management
Similar
to centralized educational administration, autocratic management entails the
consolidation of power and control in the hands of one person, organization, or
group. Unitary governments and authoritarian management styles are popular
places to find this kind of educational administration.
Democratic educational administration entails dividing up authority and duties
among several management levels, in contrast to autocratic educational
management initiatives. These days, this method of managing students is popular
and essential for bringing about the much-needed improvement in the educational
system.
Principles of Educational Management
Institutions
use the ideas of educational management to make sure that their operations run
smoothly and that students receive a top-notch education. The following are
some fundamental ideas:
Equitable work
distribution: This educational management idea suggests that all staff members, including
principals, directors, teachers, and others, have equal responsibility for
their tasks.
Power and Accountability: Assure an effective administrative framework by
delegating power in accordance with respective duties. For instance, rather
than establishing policies, instructors have the power and duty to look after
their kids.
Put organizational goals first: It’s critical to give academic and
organizational aims precedence over personal interests.
Fair
Remuneration: This idea highlights how important it is
to pay workers fairly for the work they do. This indicates that employees in
the sector of education management, such as teachers, have competitive pay and
benefits.
Resource
Allocation: Allocating resources appropriately means
making sure they are used to best serve the interests of the institution and
its staff.
Collaboration and innovation: To continuously improve the working
environment, cultivate an innovative culture where ideas are freely exchanged
and teamwork is encouraged.
Functions of Educational Management
1.
Planning: Identifying the best ways to accomplish educational
goals and developing a strategic plan are essential. These covers creating
institutional standards, allocating resources, and designing curricula.
2. Organizing: A well-organized educational institution is one that is
designed to maximize resource use and promote efficient operations. This might
include everything from personnel management to activity and schedule planning.
3. Leading: In education, leadership entails providing direction,
inspiration, and motivation to both teachers and students. It involves
establishing a goal and cultivating an environment that is conducive to
learning.
4. Controlling: This duty entails keeping an eye on and assessing
educational procedures to make sure they meet the predetermined goals. It all
comes down to upholding standards of quality and implementing the required
changes for advancement.
Benefits of Educational Management
Schools gain from educational administration in a
number of ways. It provides a supportive atmosphere for educators and learners
alike. The following are some advantages of effective educational management:
• Improved
student outcomes: Effective educational management and planning can lead to
better student outcomes and success. This occurs as a result of the effective
and efficient utilization of resources to enhance student learning.
• Enhanced cooperation: It may encourage cooperation and joint ventures
between interested parties. As a result, the educational system becomes more
integrated.
• Enhanced Morale: A good and encouraging learning environment is
created by educators who have higher job satisfaction and morale as a result of
effective educational management.
•
Strategic Planning: To set objectives and create a distinct
future vision for the institution, strategic planning is a necessary component
of effective education administration. It entails projecting educational
trends, foreseeing difficulties, spotting growth prospects, and formulating
plans of action to get the intended result.
• Effective Resource Allocation: Educational institutions may guarantee
that resources are used appropriately by managing resources like funds,
buildings, technology, and human capital.
Ways to Develop and Implement Educational Management Plan
There are several essential phases involved in
creating and implementing an educational management strategy. Here is a broad
synopsis of the education management process, if you will:
• Establish objectives and goals: Finding the program’s or institution’s
goals and objectives is the first step in creating and implementing an
educational management strategy. These objectives must to be clear-cut and
doable.
• Conduct an evaluation: The evaluation
should be carried out following the successful establishment of the education
management objectives. To determine the program’s or institution’s potential,
difficulties, strengths, and weaknesses, conduct a comprehensive needs
assessment. This could entail looking at statistics on student performance,
getting input from relevant parties, evaluating infrastructure and resources,
and performing a SWOT analysis.
• Create methods: After your goals have
been effectively set, it’s important to create methods for achieving them. To
target areas that require development and to attain the intended results, you
must devise plans. Furthermore, these tactics ought to be in line with the finest
methods for managing instruction.
• Distribute Resources: Now, ascertain whatever resources—financial,
human, and technological—are required and distribute them appropriately.
• Assign Duties: Following the resource allocation, duties must be
assigned. Each approach should be broken down into manageable steps, and teams
or people should be given specific tasks to complete these action steps.
·
• Track
Progress: Gather information and proof on the efficacy of each action step
to regularly track and assess the implementation’s progress. Make any necessary
alterations or revisions using this information to enhance results.
Importance/Significance of Educational Management
The success and general operation of educational institutions are significantly influenced by educational management. These are some of the main justifications for emphasizing educational administration, regardless of whether you are in charge of a school, college, university, or other type of learning organization:
Better Planning and Execution
Better planning and execution are made possible by educational management, which is one of the main reasons it is significant. Educational institutions can establish precise goals and objectives, make strategic plans, and deploy resources effectively when they have competent administration in place. This guarantees the seamless operation of the entire educational system, from the creation of curricula to the provision of student support services.
Optimal Resource
Utilization
Financial, human, and material resource waste can be easily avoided by
educational institutions. Administrators may make informed resource allocation
decisions and guarantee that every dollar spent improves education quality by
analyzing data on student enrollment, teacher workload, and infrastructure
demands.
Sustain a Positive Presence
Keeping up a good reputation might make all the
difference for your school. An educational institution’s reputation is enhanced
by a positive image, which draws in additional stakeholders and students. An
institution’s success is greatly influenced by how the public views it.
Furthermore, a good reputation increases credibility and trust among parents,
students, and the community at large.
Enhances Educational Quality:
The quality of education is directly impacted by good management techniques. Management makes a major contribution to the entire educational experience by making sure that resources are used efficiently and that learning objectives are met.
Promotes Professional growth: Teachers’ and staff members’ professional growth is greatly aided by educational administration. Programs such as Administration Courses give educators the knowledge and skills they need to advance in their positions.
Improving Student Learning: Good administration makes sure that students have access to the greatest tools and environments for learning, which has a big impact on their growth both personally and academically.
Promotes Innovation:
An educational institution that is well-managed fosters innovation in its
teaching and learning approaches in order to stay up with the ever-evolving
field of education.
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