meaning, nature, objectives, scope and functions of educational administration.

Meaning:

Educational Administration is regarded as the process of integrating the appropriate human and material resources that are made available and made effective for achieving the purposes of a programme of an educational institution.

The term “Administration” doesn’t refer to any single process or act. It is like a broad umbrella encompassing a number of processes such as: planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, controlling and evaluating the performance. The same situation occurs in the field of educational administration. The concept of educational administration is applicable in case of an educational organisation which has certain purposes or goals to fulfill.

In order to achieve these purposes or goals, the head of the educational organisation plans carefully various programmes and activities. Here the educational organisation may be a school, college or university. The head of the school/college/university organizes these programmes and activities with co-operation from other teachers, parents and students. He/She motivates them and co- ordinates the efforts of teachers as well as directs and exercises control over them. He/She evaluates their performance and progress in achieving the purposes of the programme.

He provides feedback to them and brings modification, if required in the plans and programmes of the school or college or university. So the totality of these processes which are directed towards realizing or achieving the purposes or goals of the school/college/university is called educational administration.

Nature of Educational Administration:

The Educational Administration has the following nature:

1. Educational administration doesn’t refer to any single process rather different processes or aspects constitute administration. These are planning, organizing, directing, Coordinating and evaluation.

2. Educational administration is a non-profit making task.

3. Educational administration is primarily a social enterprise as it is more concerned with human resources than with material resources.

4. Educational administration is more an art than a science. The reason is that human relationship prevailed here can’t be maintained by any set of formulae.

5. Educational administration is similar to general administration in many ways, but it is also dissimilar to general administration in many more ways.

6. Educational administration is a complex affair.

Objectives of Educational Administration:

As we know the very fact that educational administration needs integration and co-ordination of all the physical and human resources and educational elements. Besides this it requires a great efficiency with it based on human sympathy, understanding, knowledge and skill. The physical resources mainly contribute building equipment’s and instructional materials.

The human resources include pupils, teachers, supervisors, administrators and parents. The additional elements comprise the various aspects of educational theory and practice including philosophy of education, objectives of education, curriculum, method of teaching, discipline, role of the teacher, rules and regulations etc.

These elements are “parts, made into whole” and are components brought into harmonious relationship. So the purpose of doing such vital task is to fulfill different purposes which are known as the objectives of educational administration.

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These are:

1. To provide proper education to students:

This objective seeks to mention the fact that good education doesn’t mean education at a very high cost as is practiced in modern public schools. Rather it means the right type of education from the right type of teachers within reasonable cost. This objective also implies quantitative expansion and qualitative improvement of education.

2. To Ensure Adequate Utilization Of All Resources:

For adequate realization of the various purposes of educational programme there is the need of ensuring adequate utilization of all available resources-human, material and financial.

3. To Ensure Professional Ethics And Professional Development Among Teachers:

As teachers are the senior and mature human elements to accelerate the programme in time their role is highly felt in this regard. They are to be encouraged and given the facility to devise and try out innovative ideas on instruction and to participate in service education programmes. In this context, it can be visualized that educational administration should aim at developing a desire for hard work, dedication and commitment for their job among teachers.

4. To organize educational programmes for acquainting students with the art of democratic living and giving them excellent training in democratic citizenship.

5. To mobilize the community:

Like general administration, educational administration seeks to maintain and improve the relations with the community. For this it should seek community support and co-operation for quantitative expansion, qualitative improvements, smooth and fair examination in the educational system.

6. To organize co-curricular activities effectively for developing talents of students and work efficiency of educational teachers.

7. To get the work done:

The most important objective of administration is to get the work done effectively, efficiently and with satisfaction to the individuals and benefits to the society.

8. To prepare students for taking their places in various vocations and avenues of life.

9. To train the students in developing scientific attitude and objective outlook among them towards all aspects and activities of life.

10. To ensure qualitative improvement of education:

Good education can be provided to students by bringing qualitative improvement in instruction. Regular supervision of teaching and guidance of teachers help to ensure quality teaching in schools.

Scope of Educational Administration:

1. The educational administration encompasses all the levels of education in its jurisdiction.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

These are:

a. Pre-primary or pre-school Education.

b. Elementary or primary Education.

c. Secondary Education.

d. Higher Secondary or Post secondary Education and,

e. Higher or tertiary Education.

It is educational administration that determines what should be the nature and system of administration for all the above levels of education.

2. It covers all forms of education such as:

a. Formal Education

b. Non-formal Education and Adult Education

c. General Education

d. Vocational Education

e. Special Education

f. Teacher Education

g. Integrated Education and

h. Technical and professional Education including Engineering, Medical, MBA, and Computer Education.

Here the educational administration sets the systems of administration in accordance to the objectives and nature of all the levels of education.

3. It includes all types and strategies of management that encompasses the following:

a. Democratic Administration

b. Autocratic Administration

c. Nominal Administration

d. Real Administration

4. Educational administration covers the following aspects relating to management in its jurisdiction:

a. Planning

b. Organizing

c. Directing

d. Coordinating

e. Supervising

f. Controlling and

g. Evaluating