| Abstract: | This research explored the management devices followed in successful schools in the Indian context. In-depth case studies of three successful Navodaya schools were carried out. The schools were identified on the basis of the academic performance of students in the last three years in the national examinations and their participation in co-curricular activities at the regional and national levels. The study employed triangulation approach in which data were collected employing different methodologies (personal interviews, observations, and questionnaires/schedules) from various categories of respondents (principals, teachers, students, parents, and in some cases alumni) by a team of researchers. Results indicated that successful schools adopted participative management system in running day-to-day activities of the schools, gave people autonomy but also made them accountable for successful completion of the tasks, followed democratic methods of taking decisions, gave priority to the welfare of students, maintained supportive relationship with teachers, attempted to establish linkage with parents, set up higher and higher goals for themselves and the schools, adopted innovative pedagogical methods and evaluation devices, and recognized good work of the teachers. The results have implications for other schools where some of these devices can be tried out to improve their performance.The Asian Network of Training and Research Institutions in Educational Planning, International Institute of Educational Planning, Paris, sponsored this study. |
