%0 Journal Article
%T Management and Administration Issues in Greek Secondary Schools: Self-Evaluation of the Head Teacher Role
%A Argyrios Argyriou
%A George Iordanidis
%J Education Research International
%D 2014
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2014/147310
%X This study investigated the importance school headmasters attach to a number of activities associated with the effective performance of their duties. This recording aims to examine the potential of these school headmasters to exercise their role and work within the highly bureaucratic and hierarchical Greek educational system. These activities include (a) establishment and realization of a common vision and mission of the school unit as well as its culture identification and formation, (b) teaching and tutoring of students, (c) management and development of the educational personnel, (d) conducting of administrative affairs and management of resources, and (e) good relations with parents, entities of external environment of the school unit, and the local community. The study found that the headmasters consider activities concerning their bureaucratic/conductive role as well as their leading behaviour as ˇ°very importantˇ± at very high percentages (over 70.0%). However, tasks involving them in administrative issues are, according to them, ˇ°lessˇ± up to ˇ°least importantˇ± so that their role is effectively fulfilled. Statistically significant diversifications have been observed in certain activities associated with the efficient performance of their duties in relation to their gender, years of experience in leadership position, and the size of the school unit. 1. Introduction A keen interest in the implementation of organizational and management science in education has been shown in Greece for about twenty years, following the trend that had existed in other Western countries (European Union countries, USA, Australia, and Canada). In these countries from the middle 80s, there is not only an emphasis on educational management in both theoretical and practical level, but also a trend of decentralization of education systems with a continuing active role of the school unit in the educational process [1, 2]. Within this context it was expected to emerge an interest in issues concerning education such as planning, organization, aiming, learning, teaching, effectiveness, and accountability of school units and the significance of the role of school headmasters in the school administration [2, 3]. Today, more than ever, schools are facing the need to work efficiently and improve their educational work. An efficient headmaster allows the school to manage its critical human resources more effectively [4]. In this context the role of school administration is considered to be rather significant since the educational outcome is strongly influenced by the specific
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/edri/2014/147310/