An organisation connotes parts that are joined together to form a whole. Broom and Philip (1977) suggested that organisation is like human relations that are closely woven and that any strain on one part may weaken the whole fabric in unexpected ways.
There are two main organisations, namely formal and informal. Formal organisations will include schools, cooperatives, business groups, etc., while informal organisations refer to families, religious groups, peer groups, etc. There are characteristics of making a school an organisation.
Hierarchy
The school system is hierarchical. Members are at different levels of authority or influence. For instance, in Secondary schools in Nigeria, the Principal is No. 1, Vice-Principals, Directors, Deans, HODs, and teachers; in the College of Education in Nigeria, the Provost is the No. 1.
It is followed by the Registrar, the Librarian, the Bursar, the Deans, the Deputy Registrars, the HODs, the Lecturers, and other non-teaching staff and students. In the university, too, the Vice-Chancellor is No. 1, followed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and so on.
Division of labour
There is a division of labour in the school system. There is some staff designated for administrative tasks, some for lecturer, and some in charge of maintenance. Everyone has to do his/her duty so that the goal of the school can be achieved.
Goal
The school system, like other organisations, has a goal. The school has to make sure that this goal is achieved.
For example, primary schools are to produce sound pupils for secondary schools, and secondary schools are to produce sound students for admission to tertiary institutions.
NCE is to produce well-trained graduates, and polytechnic is to produce those who are sound in academics, coupled with technical and engineering skills. The universities are to produce professionals who can solve societal problems in different fields.
Rules and regulations
For an organisation to function efficiently, there must be rules and regulations to guide its members of the organisation.
Every member must be aware of these rules governing them. The consequences for anyone deviating or going against the rules must be spelt out.
Delegation of power
Usually, the school system operates a sort of hierarchy in which some people have the right to issue orders. For instance, the head of the school or institution has the right to give orders to everybody.
The Headteachers, Principals, Provosts, Rectors, and Vice-chancellors can delegate power or authority to their Vices, Deputies, or any other persons.
Through delegation of power, if a boss is not around, he can ask his subordinate to act on his behalf. Through this kind of arrangement, the work in the organisation can go with or without the overall boss.
Structure
The school system has a structure. The Federal Ministry of Education comes top in the structure. This Ministry is represented by the Minister of Education.
In primary schools, secondary schools, colleges of education, polytechnics, and universities, head teachers, principals, provosts, rectors, and vice-chancellors are both the academic and administrative staff.
Their Vices and Deputies are the next in organisational hierarchy. The President heads the students’ body.
Leadership
Every organisation must have a leader who directs its affairs. If the system is good, the leader gets praise. If, on the other hand, the system fails, it is the leader who has failed. The leader steers the ship of the organisation.
Channels of Communication
There must be open communication in the school system. Lack of communication can lead the system to chaos. For communication to be effective, it must have a good channel.
For instance, in a school system, everybody can’t take their problem directly to the heads of the schools. Students should go through the Students’ Affairs Officer through their Heads of Department if they have any problems.
The HODs will then channel the messages or complaints through the Deans of the schools to the Principal of the school. Most of the time, many problems can be solved without bothering the Chief Executive of the school.
Coordination
Coordination is essential if the organisation is to be successful. The Dean of Student Affairs coordinates the affairs of the students’ department; the Dean of the School coordinates the affairs of the school, and so on.
Inter-relationship among parts
The school as an organisation consists of parts. These parts include the heads of teachers, principals, provosts, rectors, vice-chancellors, administrative staff, lecturers, students, clerical staff, cleaners, security, etc.
All these parts must work hand in hand before the organisation can succeed or achieve its goals. If one section or part is removed, the organisation may collapse.
The smallest part of the organisation is as important as the rest. For instance, if the cleaners are removed, the school will be filthy, and this can lead to epidemics and diseases.
How schools socialise learners
The school is one of the formal agents of socialisation, and it uses various methods to accomplish this goal.
Rules and regulations
The school uses rules and regulations to socialise the pupils into good and acceptable behaviour.
Imitation
Pupils do watch the behaviour. Hence, teachers are supposed to be of good behaviour. Pup,ils by watching teachers, model their lives after the teachers.
If a teacher is a truant or a latecomer, the pupils, by watching him, may turn out to be truants. Teachers should excel in character so that pupils will take after their good example.
Peer group
In school, pupils mix with their age group. The bad or good group can easily influence itself. The peer group has a way of punishing the member for any wrong act.
Societies
Societies such as the Literary and Debating Society, Kegite, Reagery Club, Gemini Club, and so on do have ways by which they socialise the members.
Some societies, especially the secret ones, do have a negative influence on students’ lives. Consequently, such secret societies have been banned in many colleges and universities. Read the similar post on this page.
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