2. Globalization poses big challenges to school
administrators, teachers, and students. However,
schools should not be passive recipients to these
challenges, rather they should utilize these
challenges to transform education in all aspects.
They require students, teachers, and school
administrators to take a comprehensive view of the
emerging national and global trends of development
and form there define their positions.
3. Challenges to school
administrators
O A 'stakeholder' is someone who has a vested
interest, financial, social or otherwise in an
action or organization.
O In the context of higher education quality,
stakeholders are those groups that have
an interest in the quality of provision and
standard of outcomes. These include
government, employers, students, academic and
administrative staff, institutional managers,
prospective students and their parents,
taxpayers
4. Challenges to school
administrators
O School administrators must respond to globalization
in more complex ways as the world is getting smaller
and more interconnected. Thus, it is important for
the school admin to prepare its graduates as global
citizens. This can be done by developing an
international outlook that addresses the growing and
increasing complex global demands of companies.
Another measure is to enhance their global
competencies in terms of language abilities,
knowledge, attitude and analytical skills through
student activities, curriculum, and a variety of
international experiences.
5. Top 10 Issues that impacts
School administrations.
1) Charter Schools
Since the first charter school was established less than 10
years ago, this reform movement has been embraced by
hundreds of educators yearning for the freedom to try new
strategies to help students learn.
In exchange for a commitment to meet or exceed a state's
academic standards, charter schools are freed from many of
the regulations that govern - and some would say, constrain -
what schools can do. Charter schools can encourage
innovative ways of teaching and give students more options
to choose from.
Alleviating a school from regulations and traditional board
oversight is inherently risky. In some cases, charter schools
without the needed financial resources or management
expertise have run into difficulties - a few have had to close.
6. 2) Construction and Repair of Facilities
School districts have taken substantial steps in the 1990s to address
their facilities needs. Yet, as buildings continue to age and modern
classroom requirements continue to evolve, the extent of the problem
remains immense. The average school building is more than 40 years
old, and many classrooms are inadequate or obsolete.
"If schools are unable to perform maintenance or construct new
buildings when necessary," the report says, "facilities problems multiply,
which can result not only in health and safety problems, but also in
increased costs of repairs."
3) Enrollment Boom
Since enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools bottomed
out at 39.2 million students in 1984, it has risen each year. According to
the U.S. Department of Education, more than 47 million students were
enrolled this year in public elementary and secondary schools.
Projections show that enrollment will peak in 2005 at 47,475,000.
That means that even if school districts had their facilities in good
enough shape to accommodate current enrollment, they still would
have to find ways to add classroom space for the growth that is
expected.
7. 4) Funding
School districts can identify their facility needs and devise creative
solutions, but without money, educators can't transform those visions into
reality.
To build grassroots support for construction and renovation projects, many
districts are inviting all the stakeholders in their communities to take part in
planning facility improvements. By including all parties in the planning
process, school districts are more likely to have the support of the
community at large when they are seeking funding approval at the ballot
box.
5) Improving the Learning Environment
As more school districts are able to address their facilities needs, they are
focusing not only on how much space their programs require, but also on
what type of space.
Rather than building an uninspiring row of rectangular classrooms along a
long corridor, many districts are choosing innovative school designs that
complement the curriculum and enhance a student's learning opportunities.
"This pressing need to add, renovate or replace educational facilities
presents an opportunity for citizens, educators and facilities planners to
take a broader view of what constitutes an effective, appropriate learning
environment,"
8. 6) Security and Safety
After the spate of school shootings in the late 1990s that
culminated with the tragic slayings at Columbine High School
in Colorado, school administrators have moved security to the
top of their priority list.
Many schools have responded with more programs to detect
potential problems before they reach such a dangerous level,
and others have re-examined their buildings and campuses to
see if more equipment or other changes can help students and
staff be more secure.
7) Maintenance and Operations
Despite the recent construction boom in education, most
districts have to rely at least in part on aging facilities.
To save energy and maintenance costs, many districts have
turned to performance contracts that allow them to pay for
improvements with the savings generated by the
improvements.
9. 8) Staff Training and Retention
A growing population of students, a trend toward smaller class sizes,
and the accelerating pace of teacher retirements mean districts
across the nation will be struggling to find enough competent
teachers to instruct the next generation of students.
9) Technology
With each passing year, technology does more and costs less, and
schools have recognized that they have to offer students access to
technology to provide a well-rounded education
10) Unfunded Mandates
Without the money to carry out a program, a district often is put in the
position of seeking less costly ways of meeting a mandate, which can
alienate parents who believe their children are entitled to the most
effective program, regardless of cost.
More funding from states and federal agencies would help districts. In
the absence of that, districts that become more efficient in other
areas - energy use, maintenance, purchasing practices - may be able
to realize savings that could ease budget constraints.
.
10. Challenges to teachers
O There are numerous qualities that educators have
to possess to locate their pivotal role in the
education of the 21st century. First, they need to
show responsiveness. They must be alert for the
changes and be quick to respond especially with
the increasing diversity in schools and workplaces.
O Time Management
O Adapting class activities
O Helping parents and students meet long -term
goals
11. Challenges to students
O Thinking globally and considering issues from a variety of
perspectives are basic requirements in a globalizing world.
O Academics-the biggest challenge faced by students is in terms
of academics. Students face a lot of stress when it comes to
studies.
O The pressure of increasing cut-offs, parents expectations, strict
university admissions etc. only makes the lives of the students
much more challenging.
O Competition-it is no surprise that there is competition in this
world. Right from conception till death, every man has to go
through so many competitions through life.
O Health issues can be another challenge that student face. Most
of the time, youngsters and teenagers are in the pink of health.
However, no one can predict who falls sick and when. Small
students are often prone to fall sick especially with infectious
diseases like chicken pox or measles. They may end up missing
school and lessons.
12. O Peer Pressure Students face peer pressure not only in
schools but also in their societies. Wikipedia defines peer
pressure as “Peer pressure is the direct influence on
people by peers, or the effect on an individual who gets
encouraged to follow their peers by changing their
attitudes, values or behaviors to conform to those of the
influencing group or individual.”
O Addictions recently, a viral video/meme was making
rounds on the internet about a fifteen year old teen boy,
who was suffering from drug addiction. He would chose
drugs over food and even his mother. This is the reality of
today’s world.
O Money or Financial Stability Shortage of money is another
issue faced by students. Seven out of 10 college students
feel stressed about their personal finances, according to a
survey. Nearly 60 percent said they worry about having
enough money to pay for school, while half are concerned
about paying their monthly expenses.
