SCHOOL LEADER AS BRIDGE BETWEEN SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY

School Heads are responsible for the overall operation of their schools. The role of head teacher or the School Head has become more crucial now than ever before in view of limited resources and increased expectations from schools. School leaders play an important role in strengthening the ties between school staff and the communities that surround them (Fullan, 2001).

But I think that school leaders and their school staff alone cannot do much for the improvement of the school and for the students without the support of the community because community is a place where the children are brought up and learn new skills and it provides platform for self learning. Thereby, community is the learning ground for children which provides them opportunities for their all round development. School leader should know how to use available resources effectively for involving the community and its members for the development of the school and students.

I visited an Upper Primary School, which was located at Ajitgarh, Jhunjhunu, which was headed by Mr. Sohan Lal, who was very enthusiastic about   participation of community in the development of his school. He regularly attended the meeting with the Sarpanch and he always took help from the Sarpanch for the betterment of the school. For example he took help from the Sarpanch for the maintenance of the floor of the school and the Sarpanch was always ready to help the school.

If school takes initiatives for making community as a member of school and involve parents in decision making process for their child’s progress so parents also feel that they are the part of the school and they have right to take decisions for their child so that they feel comfortable and satisfied about their child’s holistic development.

School leader can involve community members with the help of organising different activities like Bal Mela, Exhibition of hand made things prepared by students, Sports Day Celebration, Annual Day Celebration etc. in which community members including parents can visit and give their contribution in the development of school and the students.

Reference:

Fullan, M. (2001) Leading in a culture of change. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.