Changing Framework of Local Governance and - Create

Changing Framework of Local Governance and Community Participation in Elementary EducationOne commonality in all recently initiated quality improvement programmes has been todevelop the school as an independent institution. Schools are considered the unit of change,with schools not only responsible to implement the decisions made for the larger system bythe higher authorities (Govinda, 2000, Govinda. 2004) but it is also given authority to decideabout its own course of action and setting its own goals and priorities. It requires restructuringthe power relationships between different functionaries working at different levels ofadministration including schools. However, changing the `framework of power sharing’ is nota simple technical exercise. It can only be pursued through the continued strengthening ofdemocratic processes in school governance (Govinda, 2000, 2004). Here, the school becomesthe primary unit of all interventions and actions meant for enhancing their efficiency andeffectiveness. This is challenging where schools are under-resourced, small and have frequentabsenteeism.Another factor gaining recognition is school autonomy. School autonomy 45 gives schoolsauthority in their effectiveness, since it gives schools decision-making power to conduct theirown activities according to their needs. Grauwe and Varghese (2000:7) argue that:….dimensions of efficiency namely focus on outcomes, favourable internalmanagement, cost effectiveness and equity, should be an integral part of an efficientschool.All these dimensions may be achieved to some extent if the schools are allowed to decide theirown course of action in three crucial areas (Grauwe and Varghese, 2000): i) curriculum; ii)examinations and performance evaluation; and iii) financing. However, existing examinationsystems and funding arrangements would constrain such autonomy to schools accordingly asthese are decided by higher authorities leaving the responsibility of implementation onschools.The role played and responsibilities borne by head teachers 46 are viewed as critical for qualityimprovement. In efficient schools, head teachers tend to play a pro-active role, provideleadership and motivate and support the school staff. Based on a study conducted on role ofhead teachers in six states, Govinda (2002:4) states:Field data reveals that effectiveness of the management depends heavily on thepersonal initiative and leadership of the head teacher and his or her style ofmaintaining human relationships within the school and with the departmentalauthorities....45 “School autonomy implies the relative independence of an institution in its operation, to carry out commonlyagreed goals, with a view to making it function more efficiently and effectively (Grauwe & Varghese, 2000:7).In reference to school effectiveness, many researchers have raised the issue regarding school autonomy. “Schoolautonomy, might be seen to imply that the school would become a fully self administering unit, completely freefrom external authority and influence. But in reality this is never so. The school continues to be seen only as onelevel, the last layer in a hierarchically organized arrangement for management of the school education system.”(Govinda, 2000:76)46 In the context of school autonomy, it is very important that head teachers are in a position to provide academicleadership to work with their staff on school development plans and that they are trained in budgetary processesso that school activities can be prioritized, initiated and closely monitored. This is all the more important in asituation where autonomy also implies freedom to operate the funds allocated to school (Grauwe and Varghese,2000:11).36