Decentralization of Management

There are two words before us- one is management and the other is decentralization. So, first of all
we have to understand the meaning of management and then the meaning of decentralization. The
opposite word of decentralization is centralization. So, it will be easier to understand the word
decentralization when we understand the meaning of the word centralization.
Meaning of management-
Management is the means which is concerned with the achievement of the objectives and goals set
by the managers. Since, management is related to objectives and goals so more emphasis is given on
results. Therefore, management is progressive or innovative, in which the results are conveniently
measured. In other words, management is a process which is concerned with decisions, which
includes all the activities related to planning, organisation, recruitment of employees (staffing),
operation, budgeting and evaluation. Management pays more attention to the result. This is flexible,
moves towards progress by assimilating new things and innovations. Here, when we talk about
management in education then educational management includes the efforts to achieve educational
objectives and makes them active on the basis of physical and human resources.
In this way, management has to perform many tasks from an educational point of view, which are as
follows:
1. The manager has to take decisions in order to perform his tasks smoothly.
2. The manager has to do planning related work in many areas.
3. He has to do organizational work step-by-step.
4. In order to complete the tasks well, direction has to be given.
5. Everyone has to be made aware of some or many things.
6. Accounting (income-expenditure) related records has to be prepared.
7. Which work was done, how was the success; this has to be evaluated.
8. It can be said in a nutshell (summary or in short) that the entire responsibility of arranging all the
processes of education rests with the manager in management.
The educational management of our country should be democratic. Our country is independent, it has
a democratic government system. Therefore, education should be such that it produces capable
citizens for democracy. Democracy is based on two principles-
(a) The human personality has infinite value and importance
(b) The belief that human beings are capable of understanding or performing their actions.
Human manages and conducts these works in such a way that welfare of all is possible. Also, they
(human beings) are free to do so. A democratic school can produce efficient citizens and people
familiar to community life only if the school contact with the society is maintained equally. This will
make the school aware of the problems of the society. In order to have a close relationship with the
society, the school has to do the following:
1. The school has to give education according to the society.
2. Will have to contribute in solving the problems of the society.
3. The school has to come forward for social reform, social development.
4. To inculcate democratic feelings, ideas and ideals in the students.
5. It should be the work of the school to bring goodwill, tolerance, respect for the views of others,
freedom of speech in children.

Meaning of Centralization and Decentralization

Meaning of Centralization-
Centralization is that form of administration in which power is vested in a central authority. This
central authority determines and implements policies. Also offers orders and money. Administration
tries to bring uniformity. In this, the state has a monopoly on education. This administration is
authorized by the bureaucracy.
Meaning of Decentralization-
Decentralization is the form of administration in which power has to be decentralized. This form is
based on the principle of self-determination of local communities. In this form of education
administration, equal importance is given to the parents, the community and the teachers. Also,
education is considered a collaborative effort. This administration emphasizes on not adapting to the
local conditions. At the same time, it maintains diversity and emphasizes the free expression of
interactions.
Primary education in Uttar Pradesh deserves consideration in the context of administrative
decentralization. The primary education here remained under the local management bodies for a long
time. The education system of rural areas remained under the control of the Zilla Parishad. Due to
dual control of Zilla Parishad and Education Department, there were obstacles in the effective
implementation of the educational programmes.
In 1972, the Basic Education Act was made under the Education Council in Uttar Pradesh. The basic
spirit of the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution of Uttar Pradesh government came into existence.
Keeping in mind all the primary and upper primary institutions in urban and rural areas, primary
schools to village panchayats, non-formal education; on 1st July 1999, it was decided to transfer the
work of adult education. Village Education Committee was made effective under the Panchayat Raj
Act. Through this, community participation, cooperation and coordination can be ensured.
The following functions have been assigned to the Gram Panchayats:
1. The buildings of primary and upper primary schools will be considered as the property of the
Gram Panchayat and its teachers will work under the control of the Gram Panchayats.
2. The necessary funds for the construction of new schools or existing schools for building,
maintenance, reading materials and additional rooms will be given by the government to the
Panchayats.
3. Under the new system of decentralization of power, the Basic Education Officer (BEO) has
to discharge the responsibility of making the education committee and village head aware in
the Panchayat.

At present, many types of primary schools are running in almost all the provinces of the
country. These can be divided into two parts-
1. Government schools,
2. Non-government schools

Non-government schools can also be divided into two parts-

(a) run by different departments of the central government
(b) run by different departments of provincial governments.

There are three types of non-government primary schools-

1. Government recognized and financially aided
2. Government recognized
3. Unrecognized schools
The management of finance and control of these different types of primary schools is in the
hands of different agencies and is done in different ways. Some schools are run by the
administrators who take recognition from the government and collect money arbitrarily. The
number of management schools in India is huge at every level. They are spoiling the
education system. Therefore, by ending this management system, the government should take
it in its hands.
The educational management in India is mainly run at the central, state and local levels. After
Indian independence, education was placed in the state list in the constitution and education
system was organized. The entire responsibility was assumed to be of the state. It was further
placed in the Concurrent List in 1977. The education related functions of the center were
fixed.
Before 1985, there was a Ministry of Education. The entire responsibility of this was with the
Education Minister. But after the said time, the Ministry of Human Resource Development
(MHRD) was created in which five departments were Education, Culture, Arts, Sports,
Women and Children.
The Department of Education is the main among all the departments of the Ministry of Human
Resource Development (MHRD). It has its own Secretariat, consisting of Secretary, Special
Secretary and Advisor. The Ministry of Education has more responsibilities at the Cenrte. Its
job is to give education related opinion to the states and give its directions. Its work is also to
make plans for the development of education and implement them. Although the center also
gets the help of many bodies for the development of education, yet the center is not able to
achieve its educational goal. It happened that the matter of the Center should now come
towards the states.
The Education Minister is the head of the state. It has two parts, one is the Secretariat and the
other is the Directorate of Education. The Secretariat consists of the Education Secretary and
the Deputy Secretary. All of them together form the education policies, follow and determine
the programmes. The Directorate of Education follows the rules. In the office of the Director
of Education, there are more assistants and joint directors to assist the director. District
Education Officers are the Basic Education Officers in the districts.