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January 22, 2002
REVIEW: Making schools effective
EDUCATED people are a valuable asset for a country. They contribute to the welfare of the people and the uplift of the economy. Moreover, the impact of schooling on a child’s development is crucial and lasting. And it hardly has to be pointed out that the child is the future of the nation.
Yet our school system lacks the qualities which are essential to impart effective education to our children. The book, School leadership and school effectiveness by Farooq Kunwar takes up the issue of effectiveness and leadership in schools. Farooq Kunwar is a known figure in the teacher-education sector and has a reputation of an effective principal.
What is school effectiveness? According to the author the effectiveness of a school is judged from the impact it has on the development of a child. The definition has been broadened to include the concept of progress — that is the boost a school gives to a student’s achievement over and above what he brings with him from his home environment and previous experience.
This book is divided into two parts. The first part includes Farooq Kunwar’s own reflections on his experiences as a principal at Lower Topa (Murree Hills), Okara, Rahim Yar Khan and Khanewal. Through the narration of his eleven-year experience of teaching at various educational institutions, he tries to shed light on his perception of the issue of school effectiveness. In every institution where he worked, he identified the problems, formulated the plan and evaluated the various measures that he suggested, and then proceeded to implement them.
Although the writer repeatedly emphasizes that the book is in the context of Pakistan, the impression the reader gets is that the book is more relevant to Punjab, as it does not relate to any other province.
The research in the second half of the book produces relevant and useful knowledge to improve ineffective schools. This research was conducted in thirty schools of Punjab. The point emphasized here is that school leadership affects the process of school improvement. This section consists of the research background, objectives and research questions. Then follow the research design and the analysis of the findings. The author has made use of various theories and analyses made by other researchers.
A number of theories have been stated, like Fielder’s Contingency Theory or the leadership style continuum by Tannenbaum and Schmidt. This collection of theories is useful for reference, but in the real world leadership is a different ball game altogether.
The research study included in the book has a quantitative analysis which includes explanations with the help of tables of frequency distribution to enhance the utility of the results and objectivity of the analysis. Qualitative analysis of the research is where the responses of various stakeholders have been coded into various categories, for example, open and close leadership. Different kinds of leadership roles have been defined and categorized here. The book ends with various case studies on the subject and the questionnaire.
This book is of interest to those undertaking research degrees and to active practice-oriented researchers. Also it might be a useful guide for serving head teachers, deputy heads and other members of the senior staff in schools. It shows a deep understanding of the educational set-up of various institutions and provides guidelines by means of research and analysis to those who may consider improving school effectiveness.
There is no mention of improving school effectiveness, however, in terms of academics and curriculum design. That is on how the effectiveness can or should be improved by means of improvement in the educational standard, books, courses, innovation in teaching methodology and so on.
The idea of writing this book came to the author after his reflective article (in Dawn) was appreciated by head teachers of different schools who asked for his personal support in their efforts towards the revival and enhancement of the effectiveness of their respective schools.
School leadership and school effectiveness: reflections and research in the context of Pakistan
By Farooq Kunwar
Nawa Publications, Rajput Market, Urdu Bazar, Lahore Tel: 042-7223600
175pp. Rs150
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