The need to offer principals of schools further training tops the agenda of a conference organised by the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools in Lagos.
The atmosphere was calm on Tuesday at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State. And the cozy interior received a number of guests. The male guests were all in black suits, while the majority of the women donned black skirt suits and blue camisoles.
They were all armed with their training materials, ready to learn new things about how to be better managers in their respective schools.
These are the principals in public secondary schools in Lagos State, under the auspices of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools. It was the 27th annual state congress of the educational body.
Indeed, the theme, “Retooling the School Manager for Greater Productivity” captures it all and the remarks by the president, ANCOPSS, Mr. Babatunde Phillips, was unmistaken. There is the need for further training for the school principals.
He declared, “We conceived this theme in view of the challenges facing the principal in the administration of a school. There is need to train and re-train principals in the state to ensure they are equipped with new management skills, so as to improve pupils’ performance and ensure effective teaching and learning.”
Relating his experience from the 11th convention of the International Confederation of Teachers held in Australia in July, he noted that methodology of teaching has changed. He said, “The emphasis nowadays is on the use of tools and aids and schools must make teaching and learning relevant to the society.”
A university teacher, Dr. Fatai Badru, also supports the ANCOPSS boss. According to him, a modern day school principal needs to be more knowledgeable. Badru, an associate professor, who teaches Sociology at the University of Lagos, noted that a modern principal must appreciate budgeting, overcome fears of delegating duties to subordinates and must consciously make suggestions as to the quality of staff to be recruited.
He added, “Some of these principals must know that knowledge has moved from the analogue to computer. Some of them might still be flaunting the old knowledge they had many years ago.
“Besides, they must not exhibit inferiority or superiority complex, by not delegating some responsibilities to some of their subordinates. Some may say the subordinates won’t do it well. It will lead to burn out syndrome, which can trigger one sickness or the other.”
Even as Philips and Badru share this belief, some school heads, who just retired, urged those still in service to be more amenable and committed.
A principal that wants to succeed, they advised, must delegate some responsibilities to his or her deputy, carry teachers and other non-teaching staff along and be dedicated.
A former principal of St. Francis Junior Grammar School, Iwaya, Mr. Abimbola Balogun, particularly advised those in service to always carry their vice-principals and teachers along.
He noted that he succeeded in his career due to his openness and sincerity.
He said, “When you involve other members of staff, the vice-principal and the teachers in decision making, it will be easier to implement such decision when it is eventually made public.
“The principal and the teachers must do their job conscientiously.”
On diligence, a retired principal of Ajao Estate Junior High School, Anthony, Mrs. Mojirade Apata, noted that it was wrong for some principals to refer to their job as government job, and thus handle it with levity.
“The principals must take the job as their own personal job, because sooner than later, the reward of hard work and diligence will come. They must demonstrate emotional intelligence, and be concerned with the welfare of other members of staff.”
