Republic Act 9155, otherwise known as “Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001”, provides the mandate for decentralizing the system of school management and recognizing the role of the local government units and other stakeholders as partners in education service delivery of the Department of Education.
It empowers both internal and external stakeholders in the school community to do their part, and exercise a sense of ownership of the school in achieving its goal.
The mandate presupposes that there must be a good leader who could serve as captain of the ship, and steer the vessel — the school — where it should go.
What makes a good leader then? In a school setting, where there is a free marketplace of ideas:
A good leader is a person who sees the potential of his teachers. He delegates work to those who have the best skills fit for the job, and practices it fairly and regularly;
A good leader shows appreciation for the work of his co-workers, and provides constructive criticism meant to improve their work;
A good leader encourages his fellow workers to constantly upgrade themselves through trainings and to pursue continuous education, aware that education is a never-ending process;
A good leader looks after the welfare of the entire workforce he works with;
A good leader is a person who cultivates and nurtures only love — for God, for work, for one another in the workplace, for each of the students, and love for family.
The presence of a good leader in the school is key to realizing the goals of the school, and the vision of the Department of Education in general. A good leader, working with well-motivated teachers and supportive stakeholders, eventually produces inspired learners who will be proactive in the life of a vibrant community.
Franklin L. Saycon
Polo High School
