By Dayo Adesulu

WORLD over, it is believed that nobody can give what he doesn’t have. This philosophy gives credence to why school owners should seek for best hands to handle students in school. Leadership is difficult and complex because it involves managing many roles simultaneously.

Chairman, Exam Ethics Marshals International, Ike Onyechere , opined that the academic success of students is tied to the proprietors, principals and teachers. In his trainings, he urged schools owners to seek for good qualities in principals and teachers during employment exercise.

Speaking on Best Practices in Education, Onyechere said: “When a doctor makes a mistake, a patient dies. When an engineer makes a mistake, a bridge or building collapses and somebody dies. When a lawyer makes a mistake, justice is miscarried and somebody hangs. But when a teacher makes a mistake, a whole generation dies.’’

According to him, teachers are the nucleus of human development noting that they have a heavy responsibility of transmitting ideas and knowledge from one generation to another. While education unlocks the door to progress and development, he insists that teachers hold the key.

Environment of a student

“Besides parents, no other authority holds sway over the environment of a student than teachers,’’ he added.

He noted that as mentor, guardian, coach, minister, educationist, consultant, adviser and counsellor, the teacher determines what the student hears, sees learns and thinks. The teacher, he explained, negotiates the meaning of ideas, concepts, objects, events, and determines the students eventual thought processes and beliefs.

Onyechere who noted that the teacher is regarded as the most powerful instrument of change, insists that they help to transform the education system.

The chairman averred that school owners who want the best for their students must look out for qualities and skills in teachers.

His words; “Teachers must posses the ability to explain things well in simple language. He must be able to listen to students and colleagues, as well as be enthusiastic in working with other people. Other qualities include; strong knowledge in particular subject areas and a mastry of choice subjects.

“A teacher must continually research in order to be up to date, equitably handle pressure, be patient with students, fair and have a good sense of humor. He must be able to manage time well, cope with changes and stress and enjoy challenges.’’

On the need for schools to have good principals to managing schools, Onyechere said, the school principal is a major pillar that holds the foundation of the education system together. A good, dedicated and competent principal is a blessing to his country in particular and to humanity in general. One bad principal can do a devastating damage to the entire education system.

Principals, he posited are ranked among the most important actors in the campaign to promote ethics, integrity and best practices as a foundation for transformational education.

His words: “The principal can do a lot in advancing the cause of transforming education with his exposure to education ministries, departments and agencies; association of parents, teachers, students and examination boards.

“From his vintage position, the principal can offer objective assessment that can change the direction of policies and programmes.

“Qualities of a good principal include: Ability to communicate what the school is about to different categories of stakeholders, ability to focus on important initiatives and culture that impact on student learning outcomesand take the initiative to keep trying new things until desired results are achieved.

By doing so, they easily identify where and how students and teachers can make improvements. To carry out these roles+ principals need the support of the proprietor to prevent them from failing in initial efforts

Other qualities are: ability to address problems with a positive attitude. Good principals see solutions and not just problems. The ability to establish positive school cultures by treating people including parents, teachers and students with respect.

Informal training

They hould be able to provide formal and informal training to teachers on the use of multiple instructional materials and strategies. Good principals need to create and sustain positive inspirational climate of high expectations and identify, interview, recruit, train, support, evaluate and retrain quality academic and non- academic staff.

He added; “Ability to organize and administer daily routines to maintain efficiency and safety in resource utilization, project high ethical standards that serve as role model to teachers and students and project professionalism in the best tradition of best practices are essential qualities of good teachers and pricincals.

In leadership, there is interdependence in every decision and action of leader because every thing is connected to every thing else. Leadership as defined by James MacGregor Burns is ability to induce followers to act for certain goals that represent the values and the motivation, the wants and the needs, the aspiration and expectations of both leaders and followers.