Organizing, planning, supervision, evaluating, personnel administration, budgeting and accounting. These are concisely explained below:
Organizing is the function most closely associated with the school administrator.
· The Principal or Chief Administrator of Vocational Education organizes the school in order to effectively carryout state and federal policies as they relate his institution.
· The federal government and its agencies such as the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the State Ministry of Education, the State Schools Board, Local Government Councils and Board of Government of Vocational Technical Schools, all initiate policies which the school administrator has to implementation .
· The Principal of a technical vocational college is responsible for the day to day operation of the school under his care the major purpose of any voc-tech college is the vocational preparation of youths for gainful employment (self or public). Courses should be so arranged that each student is able to specialize in a vocational areas. Moreover, students should use the same types of tools, and equipment that are normally used in their occupational area (sec Prosser 1940) and should ungraduation, attain a level of skill and knowledge that will enable them operate effectively in the occupation. Efforts should be made by the principal to ensure that the teachers posted to the college are the ones that the college needs and can make use of. General education and university preparatory courses should be taught, but they are of secondary importance to the primary. Purpose of preparing youths for job entry. Subjects such as mathematics, Social Studies and Integrated Science provide good general education background as well as skills while not being vocational, but are of related value.
Fig I on page 4, shows a typical organizational structure of a technical vocational college with principal at the apex of the chart. The Vice Principal functions as the deans of studies, among other defined duties. The principal is more likely to handle primarily external matters especially the relationship of the school with state government, the Ministry of Education, the State School Management Board, Education Service Commission, the Board of Governors, the Zonal Education Office and the Local Government Authority.
· The Principal has the responsibility of ensuring that all necessary returns are made to government. He/she is also frequently, involved in all financial matters especially the collection of fees (if still in operation), procurement of equipment and materials, the calculation of entitlements and salaries of staff, and accounting for all monies collected from students and authorized sources or received from the government.
· The Vice-Principal is often directly involved in promoting discipline on the school compound and ensuring that the schools are smoothly carried out. In many matters, students and teachers deal directly with the Vice Principal who features as the dean of studies. In the absence of the principal the vice-principal usually overseas the affairs of the school. Where the voc-technical institution is large with various departments, duties are shared with V.P Administrators, VP academic and VP general duties for good management and effectiveness. Inspite of the organization structure teachers may report directly to the principal in some matters, to Vice Principal in other matters and dean of academic studies in other related matters.
The dean of studies, usually the third in rank in the school is concerned mostly with academic studies matters sub matters include ensuring that courses are taught and that the general atmosphere necessary for effective academic work and vocational training prevails. He may be responsible for time – keeping , provision of teaching materials such as chalk, supervision of teaching and other related matters.
Heads of Department (HOD) are usually in charge of vocational areas such as electrical electronics instruction, metal works/welding, automechanic work, building construction, and sometimes radio and television technology. The HOD’s are expected to see to the smooth operation of their respective departments and ensure that tools and equipment are in good working condition and are used according to regulations. Where equipment need to be serviced or repaired, request for money is usually taken up with the principal.
The organization of a junior secondary school or senior secondary school, offering courses such as introductory i.e basic technology, technical drawing , metalwork, typewriting, and home economics is similar to that of technical colleges except that broad areas such as technical business and Home Economics from departments rather than individual subject areas like woodwork and metalwork.
However, in large secondary schools where enrollments is large and where several workshops for woodworks, metalwork and introductory ie basic technology exists separate department for those< span> subjects might be necessary. In both vocation- technical colleges and secondary schools, the principal is usually not responsible for finally decision on classroom and laboratories and the purchase of new equipment. Such necessities have to be taken up with the appropriate government body which will make money available to the principal made sufficient strong for the requirements of the institution.
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