In the midst of the challenging trend in managing education, good governance is essentially required in schools. Educational managers now-a-days must be well-adept in governing their respective institutions in order to work for the benefit of the entire school community.
Good governance in school necessitates a review of the particular school’s unique contexts and culture. A governance structure will only be effective if it acknowledges the environment and the particular contexts within which the school operates.
There are relevant means to be considered in order to attain good governance in school.
First and foremost, strengthen the school’s core values, history and culture. The educational leader must emphasize the kind of values to be prioritized and imbibed by the people within the school community. Moreover, the history and culture of the school must serve as a legacy and an inspiration respectively in pursuing better endeavors for the welfare of the school and its people and of all the educational clientele.
Next, clarify the vision, mission, goals objectives and strategic direction of the school which must be set properly in order to comprehensively guide all the undertakings of the institution for the betterment of the learners most especially in giving them high quality of education.
Thirdly, good governance requires that all individual personalities comprising the school must live with the intellectual, moral and ethical standards of the academe. In line with this, exemplary models may be emulated by the younger generation of individuals.
Fourth, good governance answers the expectations and aligns with the good interests of the stakeholders namely current students and parents, former students and parents, prospective students and parents, affiliates, government funders, benefactors, staff, community and other relevant groups. In doing this, the school will create a good impact or image to the entire community.
Fifth, the school with good governance must give importance to the school physical facilities in order to provide conducive and safe learning environment for the learners.
Sixth, the school should assure that there is a strong partnership between the school and parents. This is much significant in the realization of various worthwhile projects that will contribute to the improvement and progress of the institution.
Seventh, good governance shows transparency in all its aspects and affairs most especially in financial matters and transactions. This will secure the trust and confidence from the stakeholders. If everything will be truly well-explained, no predicaments will arise.
Finally, a school with good governance must be resilient and flexible in adjusting to the needs of time. The leader of the school managing its operations must find ways for the school to be accustomed to the requirements set by the inevitable situation.
In religiously following all of these ways most especially by educational leaders, good governance in school can be successfully realized.
By: JOCELYN C. PASAG | Principal II | Samal North Elementary School | Samal, Bataan
