SCHOOL MANAGEMENT

Managing a school is not an easy task but it is not impossible. Managing school is the
same as managing a company. There should be a leader and followers. Let's imagine that we are
on a ship with a destination to go. In order to ensure that everything goes as planned both captain
and crew have to play their roles without hesitation, so, same goes to school management where
everybody should get involve and try to drive the school towards the goals that have been fixed.
Managing a school is a process which requires everybody to show some effort because
some of the teachers have a thought that the principal will settle everything. In order to manage a
school, there should be a systematic plan, goals or objectives and action. Everybody in schools
has to work as a team and help each other but not everyone can be the leader. The one at the top
should be the principal followed by senior assistant and the rest. The leader should just facilitate
the management done by the others. For example, based on what I have observed, the principal
give orders so it is up to the others how to handle and make it happen. However, the leader
should not just totally count on the others to do everything. It is better if everyone gives ideas
and tries to make it work together. Working as a family will be better. For example, I have been
exposed to a situation where the principal wants each teacher to contribute towards school
successfulness. One of the way showed at SMK Pendeta Za'ba is each teacher has to get involved
in planning the strategies and steps to handle the main aspects which are curriculum and cocurriculum. For example, usually meeting for curriculum will be attend by teachers that have
been assigned as the leader or the one that have been given specific position for specific task but
it is different for this school where every teacher has to attend every meeting held in order to
make sure that the information is delivered well. The responsibility in managing the school was
not put on only certain people.

Teachers have to works as a team to have better management. Let's refer to an example
where the school is going to have an Independence Day celebration, so, there will be a team for
each task in order to ensure everything goes smooth. The assigned leader should ensure that the
team members work together and divide their work systematically. No one should be excluded
for any reason. Each task given to each group should be done efficiently. The leaders should
know how to control their teams so that everybody will do their work accordingly. They have to
be responsible and efficient.
Communication and understanding is the key for teamwork and school management.
Imagine the senior assistant fail to communicate with the principal and the teachers fail to
communicate with the senior assistant and principal, the school will be upside down.
Communication is important so there will be no misunderstanding and the management task will
be easier. From what I have observed, my school senior assistant has good professional
relationship with all teachers. Everybody likes him. No one has problem receiving orders or
working with him. Once he received any orders from the principal, he will make sure that the
task will be done on time without putting too much of pressure on other teachers. He will try to
make everything looks easy so there will be less tense. In addition, the principal here practicing
the 'Let Me Know' concept where everyone should knows what is going on. For example, there
were two teachers chosen to go for a course related to Frog Virtual Learning Environment, so,
once they are done with the course they should ensure that everyone received the information
starting with the principal and senior assistants. Through this concept there should not be any
excuses for the teachers not to get involve with school management. Sharing the knowledge and
input is also one of the main steps in school management.

In managing a school, there are many aspects should be taken into account such as the
ministry of education, teachers and students. Any action or steps taken should be beneficial for
these three groups. Management is a doing function because managers get the work done under
their supervision. Each task given by the leader should be taken seriously so there would not be
any delay. The objectives or the goals should be achieved on time or else it is considered as a
failure. So, in school the aims should be clear and the steps taken should be effective. Teachers
have to put aside their ego and work professionally in order to achieve the goals. Any problems
occurred should be handled professionally and appropriately not emotionally. Ideas and effort
should be balance and for the leader, instructing everybody else to do their work is not going to
help if he himself does not play his roles well. This is why nowadays autocratic leadership style
should not be practice anymore. In order to complete a complex task, some subordinates just
need a little push or motivation. Thus, it would be rewarding if you happen to have a
combination of democratic and transformational leader in the group that will always be there to
guide you through any difficult situations.
Referring to above situation, school management requires ideas, strategies and actions.
Any missing factor will cause a lot of problems. Everyone in school should be responsible and
get involve in managing the school but the authority is given to the principal. Management
requires system, effort and hard work.