India's first MBA for School Principals launched

More than 500 educationists, Principals, Vice-Principals, school managements, school and state-level administrators from across the country along with Government representatives and policy makers are participating in India's first, 'National Conference of School Principals 2012' - a two day conference being held at the India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi on November 8th & 9th, 2012.

Organized by TeacherSITY in collaboration with Educomp Foundation, 'National Conference of School Principals 2012' is India's first ever conference for school Principals at a national level which will explore critical issues confronting Schools and School Principals at a practice and policy level and will seek ways to address and deal with them.

The event is supported by Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU), Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) and SelaQui Education.

Hon'ble Minister of State for HRD Mr. Shashi Tharoor, the chief guest on the occasion, after delivering the key note address formally launched India's first MBA (Educational Management and Leadership) program for School Principals. Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU) in collaboration with SelaQui Institute of Management will offer India's first and only Educational Management and Leadership Program leading to an MBA Post Graduate Degree awarded by UTU.

Welcoming delegates to the opening session, Mr. Om Pathak, Chairman, TeacherSITY said, "The need of the hour is to examine the role of school leaders [Principals] and explore the competencies, skills and attitudes they must possess to lead the schools of the future. Research and experience suggests that School Leadership alone defines the very being and character of the schools, its academic ambience, teacher commitment and competence, high student attainment and overall success of the school. Principals must thus have the innate ability to envision the road ahead, bring about alignments to lead and manage change".

Considering the above are we investing enough in preparing good teachers to become effective and dynamic principals? Do we offer, at any level, an opportunity or incentive for teachers to upgrade and prepare themselves for school leadership roles?

Shantanu Prakash, Trustee, Educomp Foundation said "We are happy to be partnering with TeacherSITY in organizing the National Conference of School Principals. The conference is a platform to share ideas and views emerging from the personal practices of school leaders. This is a great opportunity for us in the education domain to suggest way forward for finding answers to some critical questions. I am convinced that this conference will provide school managements, educationists and domain specialists an opportunity to reflect and define a qualified doctrine for school leadership."

Besides the MBA in Educational Management and Leadership, Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU) will also offer diploma and certificate variants of the program in convenient mode to suit working teachers and principals. The program is designed to prepare principals for 21st century schools. It is designed to address the four major areas of school management and leadership such as Personal Effectiveness, Instructional Leadership, Institutional Management and Strategic Leadership. Candidates successfully completing this program can look forward to advancing their careers towards school principal-ship.

The Hon'ble Minister also launched Principals FORUM at www.principals.in.

Principals FORUM is a movement, a program and also a web portal. In any or all of its avatars, the professional and personal challenges, opportunities and needs of the principals would be addressed. It is a collaboration; on the web, through conclaves, round tables, conferences and other modes; amongst teachers, principals, researchers, trainers, institutions, schools and school administrators in providing quality education conforming to global standards.

Source : Equity Bulls

Keywords