The functions
of the administrator of vocational education can generally be regarded as
consisting of two major components leadership and management.
The function of this leader is to
initiate new procedures for accomplishing the organizations’ goal and
objectives. An educational leaders particularly in vocational education sphere
is expected to initiate and direct technology issues to the school community,
in order to further the educational progressive objective of the school
Management function, on the other hand requires the
utilization of existing structure and procedures in order to achieve the goals
of the institutions .
The management functions of the
administrator is perhaps more important then the leadership functions since the
administrator is expected to implement the polices handed down to him/her by
the State or Federal Government. However, an educational administrator with
good leadership qualities will be able to devise innovative and more effective
methods of implementing policy. The administrator will be able to motivate and
inspire his staff to give their possible
best in the pursuance of the objectives
of the institution. The actions of a good leader will engender respect
and cooperation from subordinates. The
mature leader will be able to influence State and Federal polices on education by communicating effectively his views and experiences to the
appropriate higher authorities. Vocational and Technical
Education is higher is Nigerian needs not nor just programme mangers, but
leader who have strong beliefs in the important and relevance of vocational and
technical education and who can communicate such beliefs to other. The
implementation of the new national policy on education requires behide the
policy, capable and willing administrators to give direction in order to ensure
that the aims and policy are recalled and attained.
·
It should be
realized that school Principals are the direct link between the implementers of
the policy (mainly teachers) and
the developers of the policy
(government). If the problems
encountered in the implementation of the
policy are not clearly identified and communicated to policy makers,
expected benefits of the new policy may not be derived. At present, Nigeria is
passing through a period of rapid
expansion in technical and vocational
education. Leaders are needed to executive
expansion programmes implement imaginatively state and Federal
Governments policies on vocational and technical education.
Stogdil
(1957) reported some findings why one individuals characteristically makes a
good leader while other do not, as :
The leader is characterized by a strong drive for responsibility and tax
completion, vigor and persistence in pursuit of goals venturesomeness are well as originality in
problem solving, drive to exercise
institutive in social situations. Self
confidence and since of personal identify, willingness to accept consequences
of decision and action, readiness to absorb interpersonal stress, willingness to tolerate frustration and delay
ability to influence other persons behaviour, and capacity to structure social interaction systems to the purpose at hand.