Every one busier skill setting in motion the vicious

every one busier skill, setting in motion the vicious cycle of “bureaucratic bloat” The bigger
organization may accomplish no more real work than it did before.
(b) Bureaucrats are promoted to their level of incompetence”. Employees who are competent
at one level of the organizational hierarchy will be promoted to higher position. Eventually,
however, they reach a position where they perform badly and become ineligible of further
advancement. Reaching their level of incompetence dooms officials to a future of
inefficiency. Adding to the problem is the fact that, after years in the organization, they
almost certainly have learned how to protect themselves by hiding behind rules and

EDU 221: SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION MODULE 2
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regulations and taking credits for work actually performed by their more competent
subordinates.
Unit summary
In this unit, the concept ‘Bureaucracy’ was explained as been central to the coordination of
works of individuals through a division of labour and a chain of authority. Furthermore, the
characteristics of Bureaucracy were presented.The unit also dealt with the school and its role
in the bureaucratic organization. Here are some of the main ideas put forth:
• Bureaucracy is a rational and efficient way of completing tasks and rewarding individuals
based on their contributions.
• The main elements of a bureaucratic organization comprise of division of labour,
administrative hierarchy, specific rules of procedure, formalized and effective neutral role
relationships, rationality of total organization and positions held by individuals in the
organization.
• In any bureaucratic organization like the school, there will be expected problems, for
example huge enrolment, lack of autonomy among teachers and bureaucratic personalities.

EDU 221: SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION MODULE 2
25
. Unit 4
School Administration
Study time :5 hours
Introduction
Successful operation of an educational institution requires competent administrators. Head
Teachers provide instructional leadership and manage the day-to-day activities in schools.
The head of an institution is solely responsible for institutional planning and management. He
or she decides how to use the available resources and how to initiate steps to mobilize the
resources. He or she involves the teachers, parents, other associations towards the
achievement of qualitative education for learners.
Learning outcomes
After reading through this unit you should be able to
i. Describe duties of a head teacher, Deputy head teacher and head of
department