Applying Management Theory into Practice at Secondary School in Zimbabwe: Teachers Impressions of Classical Management Functions at Mapakomhere Day Secondary School in Masvingo

Abstract

This study sought to measure the application of the five main classical management functions in the educational management processes, namely: planning, organising, directing, staffing and controlling. The study was qualitative and thus made use of a focus group discussion. The study established that the classical management functions are very important in school management systems. Schools come up with plans and thus identify their mission and objectives of the school. They then organise and put in order of priority and preference the resources which are available. The school headmaster provides leadership by delegating duties and responsibilities to staff, and by motivating them. The school management is also responsible for staffing involving assessing, appointing, evaluating and developing the employees at work in the school. And lastly there is controlling which is about monitoring and evaluation to ensure that everything is in the right direction to ensure attainment of set goals. All these classical management functions were found to be useful and practiced at Mapakomhere Rural Day Secondary School in Masvingo district.

Keywords: Management theory, teachers, classical management functions, Mapakomhere Rural Day Secondary School, planning, organising, directing, staffing, controlling