Prepare vision documents, CBSE schools told

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has asked the principals of affiliated schools to prepare vision documents in order to prepare their respective institutions to handle the present and next generation students.

The message was conveyed to a group of principals of various schools in the central region of the State, who took part in a three-day workshop on “Effective School Management and Leadership” that began at Samadh Senior Secondary School here on Monday.

Ganesh Subramanian, Director, EZ Vidya, one of the empanelled agencies by the CBSE to provide training to principals and teachers of affiliated schools, said that there was a need for paradigm shift in overall functioning of schools, where principals were required to act as visionary, communicator, manager, administrator and an academician.

It meant that each school should have clear vision and mission on all aspects of education and future growth of the institution, student, teacher and staff welfare.

The visionary approach would automatically take the institutions to handle next generation of students. The principals should handle and monitor all works by delegating powers to relevant subordinates.

Highlighting the dramatic change in learners’ profile in the last decade, he said technology has played a pivotal role in changing the learners’ profile. Parents’ perception to the schooling and their expectations of learning inside classrooms had also changed to a great extent.

The CBSE, which was constantly monitoring the changes, had been sending circulars and providing training to principals and teachers asking them to adapt to the new environment. If they incorporate necessary changes as per CBSE requirements, it would enable them to produce top class and effective thinking personalities.

Mr. Subramanian said that there was a big gap between the “digital native learners” and the “digital immigrant teacher”. Empowerment of teachers would facilitate better learning thereby taking charge of transforming classrooms to “think rooms.”

Sundar Raj, another resource person, said the class room dynamics was an important aspect, which could lead to better cognitive performance.

The aspect revolved around establishing cordial and learning oriented relationships between teachers and students.