XN000022-1997-03-01+02 — Page 4

-

3 -

New roles and responsibilities of school leaders

The Director of Education, Mrs Helen C P Lai Yu this (Saturday) morning shared her views on the roles and responsibilities of school leaders with participants at the Conference on Designing Schools for the 21st Century -- Considerations for Hong Kong's School Leaders.

Mrs Yu said school leaders had to assume new roles in quality development and quality assurance in the next century.

"We now ask them to be crusader, motivator, facilitator and learner -- same time," she said.

all at the

She said a good leader should be a crusader with a clear vision for quality development, a true believer with firm conviction for quality culture.

He shares powers of decision-making and mobilises participation, yet appreciates the importance of accountability and accepts responsibility, she added.

"A school leader must be a motivator, where change begins and extends.

"He creates a climate for shared values, corporate decisions and joint action.

"Change would then permeate through the school, in beliefs and behaviour," Mrs Yu said.

Meanwhile, a school leader must be a facilitator and supporter, not just supervisor or controller.

He renders assistance and maximises resources. He provides opportunities for training and performance.

"He establishes an atmosphere for innovation, for collaboration and for pursuit of excellence in people as well as in the school environment," she said.

"A school leader must be a life-long learner. He keeps abreast of developments,

not only in education but also in the society around him.

"He does not rest on faded glory or pasting traditions," she added.

Mrs Yu said the roles of school leader became ever more complex and so more interesting, more challenging and thus more rewarding.

End

He has to be both responsible and responsive, she noted.