U4 - School Management & Governance Part 1

Question 1

P41-42 Characteristics of school as organisation (12)

Answer 1

• -School is unique organisation
• -Has own terrain, competence, nature, task & structure
• -Exists in education system
• -Main aim is teaching & learning

Structural elements that give school unique educational nature & character

• -School is a public institution
• -Task & purpose is to plan and organise education for learners
• -It involves diverse learners who determine limits & possibilities of organisation
• -It involves educators who have professional knowledge & skills to implement unique task & purpose of organisation
• -Lack of general technique in school
• Educators cannot use one teaching method because of diverse nature – different schools, learners, subject content & outcomes
• -School organisation – people are grouped together in organised hierarchal authority structure
• -Duty of principal, SMT and SGB to create & maintain safe learning environment where learners feel safe when doing unfamiliar challenges

Question 2

P41-42 Characteristics of school as organisation - Educational nature of school & country’s vision for eucation influence elements of school as organisation. These include: (6)

Answer 2

• -Identity of school – vision, mission, purpose, direction, tasks
• -School strategy – goal-setting, planning, evaluation
• -Structures & procedures – communication, decision making & accountability
• -School’s technical support – resource control, financial management & administration
• -Human resources – human resource development, interpersonal relations & conditions of employment
• -Leadership & management

Question 3

P41-42 Characteristics of school as organisation - Explain nature of school (9)

Answer 3

• -Bureaucratic Nature
• -Bureaucracy-oriented tasks of school – e.g. financial matters
• -need strict control
• -Open system
• Interacts with other organisations
• Changes & adapts because of outside influences
• -Professional Nature
• -Professional-oriented tasks of school – e.g. teaching and learning activities
• -not need strict control
• -Closed system
• Unique teaching and learning task – so very sovereign

Question 4

P42-43 Formal Organisation Structure of School - What is Organisational Structure? (2)

Answer 4

• -Way basic structural elements of organisation are ordered to meet specific objectives
• -A structure is formed when work is divided & allocated to meet organisation’s objectives

Question 5

P42-43 Formal Organisation Structure of School- Tightly connected bureaucratic organisational structure

Answer 5

• -Principal & management team have strict control over all elements of school activities
• -Educators function in rigid system created for them
• -Clearly defined rules & regulations
• -Clear plans & schedules for educators to follow
• -Clear allocation of work with specific areas of responsibility

Question 6

P42-43 Formal Organisation Structure of School - Loosely connected organisational structure (5)

Answer 6

• -Can help professional nature of teaching by
• -Making decisions based on knowledge & skills gained from training
• -Acting in interest of learners & not self-interest
• -Being loyal to profession & learners
• -Managing own conduct per ethical code of conduct

Question 7

P42-43 Formal Organisation Structure of School- Organisational structures characteristics

Answer 7

• -Relationships within organisation
• -Division of activities into various functions & departments
• -Authority & responsibilities
• -Communication

Question 8

P42-43 Formal Organisation Structure of School - Explain 2 bureaucaracies & who is responsible for implementing them (4)

Answer 8

–Principal & SMT organise & coordinate activities & elements within school.
–Strength of connection of structural elements depends on way in which 2 bureaucracies – -formalisation (rules & procedures)
-centralisation (hierarchy of authority)
…are applied

Question 9

P42-43 Formal Organisation Structure of School- Explain Tight & Loose structures

Answer 9

• -Organisational structure of schools can be tightly connected organisational structure or loose professional organisational structure or somewhere between.
• -Education may need organisational structure to be loose
• -Financial management may need organisational structure to be tight
• -Both have place

Question 10

P42-43 Formal Organisation Structure of School- How can Formalisation & Centralisation be helpful? (6)

Answer 10

• -Assisting educators with solutions in work
• -Promoting communication
• -View problems as opportunities
• -Promoting trust
• -Valuing differences
• -Facilitating problem solving