Better Schools:
Resource Materials for School Heads in Africa
 
   
 
   
The Governance of Schools
The purpose of this module is to enable heads of primary and secondary schools to gain an understanding and insight into the nature and dimensions of school governance, and thus help them work effectively with the various groups and bodies which have a part to play in the good governance and management of each school.

Individual study time: 21 hours

Objectives
After working through this module you should be able to:

• identify the various bodies which have a role to play in the governance of schools
• understand the legal and other bases for school governance
• distinguish between different levels of educational administration
• have an insight into the role of the national Ministry of Education in the operations of your school
• understand the rationale for the establishment of a governing board or school management committee
• have insights into the constitution, powers and roles of the governing board or the school management comittee
• indicate the way and manner in which staff, pupils and the various school committees assist with the management of the school
• understand the concept of school and community links, and identify some of the bodies which have links with your school and the contributions they make to the school
• identify possible areas of school-community conflict and ways and means of minimising them
• understand the rationale for community inputs into the school curriculum.

Units
The module is divided into five units.

Unit 1: Defining the parameters of school governance
1 hour
Here you will recognise the parameters of school governance, consider the context of school governance in the management of your school, and outline what the concept of school governance embraces.

Unit 2: Legal basis of school governance
3 hours
This unit deals with the legal basis of school governance. You will recognise the purpose of, and difference between, education acts and ordinances, by-laws on education, legislative and executive instruments on education, policy statements and administrative instructions concerning education.

Unit 3: School managers and governing bodies
4 hours
In this unit you will examine the nature of school management and governing boards, identify their powers, roles and qualifications for membership, and suggest ways in which you, as school head, have to relate to them.

Unit 4: Relationships between schools and other agencies

3 hours
Here you will consider the relations of your school with other agencies, including issues such as defining levels of education administration, and the relations of your school with regional or provincial or state authorities, as well as with district authorities and other agencies involved in the management of your school.

Unit 5: Partners in school management

10 hours
In this last unit you will identify the various groups and elements both within and without your school, who are partners with you, the head, in its management.

Contributors
This module was written by a team in Ghana:

Mr John Atta-Quayson Deputy Director-General, Ghana
(Team Leader) Education Service

Dr Andrew Amuzu-Kpeglo Institute of Educational Planning
and Administration, University of Cape Coast

Mr Robert Asiedu Head, Achimota School

Mr E Addo Johnson District Education Officer, Accra Metropolitan Authority

Mr John Budu-Smith Principal, Accra Technical Training Centre

Mr Stephen Yaw Manu Deputy General-Secretary, Ghana National Association of Teachers