Course Details

1. Examine the evolution of the science of administration of educational organizations and differentiate among different approaches of school administration and management.
2. Explain the theory of the social systems and analyze the school environment, as well as the Cypriot educational system, based on the main principles of the social systems theory.
3. Compare and contrast the main theories of educational administration and leadership, and find applications of these theories in regards with the Cypriot school environment.
4. Recognize the importance of communication in schools, identify factors that contribute to efficient communication, and evaluate the process of productive decision-making in schools.
5. Define and compare the concepts of school climate and school culture, state the positive effects of a healthy school climate in preprimary education, and show ways that a school headmaster may improve the school climate.
6. Explain the factors that contribute to efficiency in education, and specifically education in Cyprus, and recognize the role of the school director/leader in the administration and management of a pre-primary educational organization, and examine the role of the school leader in promoting the professional development of his/her staff.
7. Explain the factors that contribute to efficiency in education, and specifically education in Cyprus, and recognize the role of the school director/leader in the administration and management of a pre-primary educational organization, and examine the role of the school leader in promoting the professional development of his/her staff.

Introduction to the science of educational administration and management and historical and theoretical background: The classic approach, the human relations approach, and administration based on the behavioral model.

Social systems theory: The school as a social system, basic principles and the meaning of a social system. The role of the leader in a social system.

Theories and models of educational administration: Bureaucracy, professional bureaucracy, X and Y theory. Henry Mintzberg, Hersey and Blanchard. Theory of personal characteristics.

Decision-making and communication: Decision-making approaches. Importance of decisions in schools. Efficient communication in pre-primary education. Communication networks. Process of communication. Improvement of communication in schools.

School climate: Dimensions of school climate in pre-primary education. Healthy and positive school climate. The role of the director of the school.

Efficiency in education: Efficiency in education. Efficiency in Cypriot education. The role of the school director. Administration and leadership in early childhood education.

Motivation Theories: Maslow, Herzberg, McClelland, Vroom. Attribution theory.

• Πασιαρδής, Π. (2004): Εκπαιδευτική ηγεσία: Από την περίοδο της ευμενούς αδιαφορίας στη σύγχρονη εποχή. Αθήνα: Εκδόσεις Μεταίχμιο.
• Click, P.M. (2005). Διοίκηση Μονάδων Προσχολικής & Σχολικής Αγωγής (μτφρ. Μαρία Σπανού). Αθήνα: Εκδόσεις ΄Ελλην.

• Αθανασούλα-Ρέππα κ.α (1999). Διοίκηση Εκπαιδευτικών Μονάδων: Εκπαιδευτική Διοίκηση και Πολιτική. Πάτρα: Ελληνικό Ανοικτό Πανεπιστήμιο
• Δαράκη, Ε. (2007). Εκπαιδευτική Ηγεσία και Φύλο. Θεσσαλονίκη: Επίκεντρο.
• Πασιαρδής, Π. & Πασιαρδή, Γ. (2003). Αποτελεσματικά σχολεία: Πραγματικότητα ή Ουτοπία. Αθήνα : Εκδόσεις Τυπωθήτω.
• Σαΐτης, Χ. (2000). Οργάνωση και Διοίκηση της Εκπαίδευσης: Θεωρία και Πράξη. Αθήνα: Ατραπός (2η έκδοση).
• Σαΐτης, Χ. (2005). Οργάνωση και Λειτουργία Σχολικών Μονάδων. Αθήνα.

The course consists of the delivery of lectures by the professor, as well as the use of co-operative learning techniques and reviews of case studies. Lecture notes and presentations are available through the web for students to use in combination with the textbooks. The e-learning platform of the university is used as an educational aid to this course.