Nilima Bhagabati,PhD, FCCEAM Professor, Gauhati University(Assam) Ms. Arati Kalita, M.A English Language teacher, K V, Maligoan, Assam.

EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP ROLE OF SCHOOL PRINCIPAL-A STUDY IN ASOM JATIYA BIDYALAYA

Nilima Bhagabati,PhD, FCCEAMProfessor, Gauhati University(Assam)Ms. Arati Kalita, M.AEnglish Language teacher, K V, Maligoan, Assam

ABSTRACT

Today’s schools are facing tough challenges due to demographic changes, multi lingual society,inclusive pattern of Education, disadvantaged and ethnically diversified population . Addressing these issues, Principal has to play an effective role and need to change over from traditional role of Administrators to Facilitators with a change in responsibility in efficient management of schools through positive Leadership qualities.

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Leadership comprises qualities that need to be developed to bring forth the best practices for themselves and others .Principal as a Leader needs to be a team worker , inspire a shared vision , achieve futuristic visions and explore the abilities of others to build and work with team spirit.

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An attempt is being made in this paper to reveal the outcome of effective Leadership resulting in positive development of the Institution ,teachers and students community based on the study conducted in Asom Jatiya Bidyalaya, Guwahati , Assam.

Introduction: Educational Leadership plays a pivotal

role in transforming and developing a society and

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in fulfilling the needs and aspirations of a Nation.

In today’s context , the role of school Principal has become crucial due to high demands and expectations of quality education, inclusive education, market demands, demographic changes and booming technology in all aspects of teaching –Learning processes.

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In context to the changing situations, the role of Principals is drastically changing for which Principal as a leader need to develop Leadership skills and Team work spirit. Wallace Foundation has stated five key functions of effective School Principals. (Source:The School Principal as a Leader-Internet)

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• Shaping a vision for academic success.• Creating a climate hospitable to Education.• Cultivating Leadership in others.• Improving Instructions.• Managing people , data and processes to foster

school improvement. The University of Washington in a study stated that

although in any school a range of Leadership patterns exist among Principals , formal and informal teacher leaders and parents- the Principal remains the central source of Leadership influence .( Source: The School Principal as Leader: Internet)

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School Principals are expected to bring volatile changes in Educational Institutions Today’s Principal need to have Visionary Leadership, implement school programs efficiently and effectively ,lead school community to achieve vision and goals Principal as a Leader need to inspire a shared vision, achieve futuristic vision and explore abilities of others to build and work in team spirit

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Due to changing concept of Principal’s Leadership role, a study was conducted in Asom Jatiya Bidyalaya, Guwahati, Assam to find out the effective leadership role of the Principal on overall administration, management , academic performance, non academic performance, team works and innovative implementation of the programs in AJB.

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JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY: 1.Asom Jatiya Bidyalaya is identified as a front

ranking Educational Institution in Guwahati , the capital city of Assam .Established in 1994, AJB’s medium of instruction is in Mother-tongue-Assamese having classes from Ankur (Play group ) to senior secondary (Class XII). With a strong infrastructure, adequate and protected play ground, smart class rooms ,school press, the school’s present students enrollment strength is 1700. Maintaining balance in Teacher-Pupil ratio which is 1:20. The teaching staff strength stands at 139.

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2. AJB is showing excellent academic performance in comparison to rest of Government and Private schools of Guwahati city in High school Leaving Examinations since 2001, Every year AJB students secure Ranks amongst first twenty students in HSLC examination held under Secondary Education Board Of Assam.(SEBA)

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3.AJB is looked after by a Trust comprising leading citizens and Educationists giving voluntary service for the all round development of the school.

4.AJB is the only secondary school in Guwahati city appointing Principals on rotation basis for three years term.

5. AJB is the only school selected in the entire country by FASS (Friends of Assam and seven sisters) on behalf of NASA to talk to astronaut Edward Mike Finke on board of ISS on 07 january,2009.

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6. AJB’s group of students participated in the project entitled Water Re-discover organized by North Dakota State University ,USA in 2011.

Methodology adopted: The methodology adopted for the study

is ‘Descriptive survey’.

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Sample of the Study: Sample of the study comprises all 139

teachers of AJB teaching in the Elementary, Secondary and Higher Secondary levels of Education. The sample comprises both male and female teachers within the age group 20-58 years . Teachers were interviewed in separate groups. The non teaching staff comprised another set of sample.

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Tools used:

1.Structured Interview schedule2. Structured Observation schedule Findings and Discussion:

1. Shaping a vision for academic success.

Dewey Hensley instilled the idea that all children could learn with appropriate support.( source: Principal as a Leader: Internet)

1. The respondents revealed that AJB Principal is extremely supportive, cooperative to teachers and to non teaching employees.

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2. There are subject wise Departments headed by Departmental Head. Every Faculty member sits together under the HoD to prepare lesson plans, assignments, project works in advance to be submitted to Principal for approval and implementation.

3.Under the Chairmanship of Principal, teachers meet every month for SWOT analysis and accordingly measures are adopted.

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4.For monitoring studies at home, AJB Principal has formed teams of teacher in various levels to keep in touch with parents and students through Home visits thrice a year.

5. For students appearing HSLC and Higher secondary examinations, surprise visits are paid in the homes as advised by Principals to to monitor the progress of studies to be reported .

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6. As a strategy to develop spoken and written English, Spoken English is a subject has been introduced from class v th. to X th.

7.Students are motivated to perform experiments in Science lab from Class III to Class VIII on the basis of practical books authored by AJB teachers. Every student performs 15 experiments in a year. Class IX students are encouraged to perform experiments in Environmental science.

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8. Students are highly motivated both by Principal and teachers to unfold their creativity through write ups for publication in the annual school journal ‘Bakhar’.

9.AJB students are introduced to the lives of great Scientist in the classes from V-VII. A specially prepared text book caters to the need of the program and students has to take part in a paper in a year.

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10. AJB Principal takes keen interest in School clubs named after various Scientists and Litterateur and students participation from the secondary level is mandatory.

11.For Student’s skill development, Principal has introduced skill development programs held on Saturdays offering additional opportunities to both students and teachers to learn Animation Photography, Social works, Teaching and Debate. Students who exhibit talents in Music and Dance are given focused attention on saturdays to attain excellence.

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12.Resourceful personalities are invited at regular intervals to interact and share experiences with students at various level.

13. To maintain school records, a record book is provided to each student for communications between teachers and parents and to keep track of students strength and weakness in both scholastic and co scholastic areas.

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14. Teachers are trained to assume the responsibility of counseling 10-15 students on academic and other school related matters for six years continuously as they move from class V to X.

15. School sponsors students and teachers visit to historical places.

The study has revealed AJB Principal’s efforts and Leadership in shaping a clear vision for academic and all round success of students , leading to positive impact of students in sound and strong academic development.

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2. Creating a climate hospitable to Education: Effective Principals ensure a conducive and

Student Teacher friendly environment .This study revealed that,

1. AJB Principal in order to instill the value of time discipline and punctuality, strictly maintains school’s norms. At 8.30 sharp, the school gate is closed and late comers are not given entry. Students are to be picked up by parents in discipline manner from outside the gate and security persons are posted.

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2.The Principal enters the school campus every day around 8.15 am .

3.AJB entire environment is tension and anxiety free because of protective campus and Principals and teachers positive attitude towards each and all.

4. The work culture in AJB is highly appreciable.5.It was revealed in the study that the

management never interferes with the functioning of Principal and teachers. Although the management periodically discusses with Principal and teachers,

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full autonomy is given to the Principal for flawless administration and management of school assisted by teachers.

A solution based friendly professional environment prevails in AJB under leadership of the Principal.

3. Cultivating Leadership: In AJB, Principal ship term is in

rotation for three years.

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The study revealed that teachers has a rich experience of working together in teams and developing leadership qualities before Principal’s assignment is handed over and this experience acts as boon to play the role of Principal ship effectively in a conducive school environment.

The Principal constitutes committees to look to the aspects of academic, cultural, co scholastic and examinations under the leadership of Teachers for smooth and efficient functioning.

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• Opportunities are given to the teachers to unfold their potentialities through participation in various activities conducted in School .

• Two days orientation programs are organized for teachers in school to develop skills and work shops are organized on capacity building of Teachers.

• The Home visit programs are chalked out

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by HoD s of various Faculties and accordingly guidance and improvement measures and academic support given to students.

Study revealed that in AJB, teachers are entrusted with responsibilities and given opportunities to learn from one another. The study also revealed that AJB Principal is playing a major leadership role in developing work culture, dedicated teaching community and professionalism.

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4. Improving Instructions: It was revealed in the study that, All teachers in AJB are professionally

trained• Pre service and In service teachers

training are encouraged and motivated and conducted in AJB.

• For improving instructions, action research studies are encouraged and undertaken at all levels by teachers.

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Teachers are deputed from school to participate in seminars and work shops for professional development and improving teaching learning process.

AJB teachers under the guidance of the Principal has authored text books( published by school authority) to supplement the reading materials of the prescribed text books . Reference and Rapid reading materials including innovative charts and calendars are prepared by teachers.

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As a measure to upgrade and improve instructions ,Teacher-training programs are conducted periodically.

The Principal as stated by respondents to be playing an effective role in academic and professional development of teachers.

5.Managing data, people and processes:

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As reported by respondents.• The organization and management skill of the Principal has

a positive impact in the functioning of AJB.• From the Fourth grade employees to the Principal, work

culture and inter-personal relationship is highly observable.• AJB administrative office is looked after by two office

assistants under the able leadership of Principal. All school related works are computerized and the data entry process is monitored by the Vice Principal.

• The management committee meets the teaching staff twice a year to discuss progress and future strategies related to academic matters.

• The management committee also assess the teachers performance

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through a process of appraisal and assessment.• National festivals , important days are observed

where not only students and teachers but the management participates actively.

Summing up: The study conducted in Asom Jatiya Bidyalaya

revealed that the school is functioning under the excellent leadership of the Principal. Educational research shows that most school variables considered separately , have at most

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small effects on learning. The real pay off comes when individual variables combine to reach critical mass. Creating the conditions under which that can occur is the job of the Principal.( source: Principal as Leader: Internet)

Through this study, what makes an effective Principal a true Leader of an Institution has been revealed.. As an effective leader, the Principal of AJB is developing not only quality learning community but also professional community.

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This study has proved that over all success of an Institution including management will be difficult to achieve with out an effective Principal.

To develop effective Principals with leadership qualities, training programs through effective measures like work shops need to be organized by University, Government or non profit organizations and other professional training agencies. The Asom Jatiya Bidyalaya Principal’s overall effective functioning can to be adopted as a Training module for capacity building and developing Principals as effective Leaders for tomorrow.

PHOTOGALLERY OF ASOM JATIYA BIDYALAYA, GUWAHATI, ASSAM

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Paper presented in casea/cceam

organized conference on Re-Situating Commonwealth: Educational leadership at a time of Demographic change: June 6 th.-10 th. June,2014 in New Brunswick University, Fredericton, Canada.