| Abstract [eng] |
For an organization, each person is an important component of the potential resource, which allows the realization and management of the activity. The quality of the provided services and the successful organization activities depend on the qualifications and competences of the employees. Management competence is needed not only for managers but also for teachers who have interagency pedagogical and managerial functions at work. Potential (lot. patentia – power, force) – the degree of personal capacity, the intensity of his expression, opportunities in a certain area, space (International Glossary, 2001). Generally speaking, the concept of potential means the „level of capacity“. Based on systematic access, management potential is positioned at work as a level of management capacity, the main component of which is management competence. The intensity of its expression is influenced by a whole range of factors that are sought out by analyzing the views of the subjects. The research problem is analyzed in order to answer the questions: What importance does pre-primary education educators provide in the expression of their managerial potential? Do teachers' competencies, including management, are integrated in the implementation of educational goals in order to involve the community of the institution in its management processes in improving the quality of education? What managerial competences do teachers need to be able to successfull work in an educational institution? Does the development of managerial competences link teachers with professional career perspectives? The object of the research is the managerial potential of pre-school educators. The aim of the research is to find out the peculiarities of assessment of the managerial potential of pre-school educators, to reveal the need and possibilities of its expression and development. The hypothesis is raised: it is probable that the managerial potential of pre-school education teachers is considered as an important factor ensuring the systematic qualitative change of the institution's activity; however, the development of teachers' managerial competences as organizational potential is not given enough attention at both: the personnel and organization levels. Empirical research involved 7 experts and 136 educators from 30 pre-school educational institutions of Šiauliai. The reseach uses theoretical, empirical and statistical methods of investigation. Empirical research reveals that preschool education teachers and managers recognize that the managerial potential of pre-school educational institutions is an important factor ensuring the systematic change of the quality of the institution's activities, but the development of the managerial competencies of pedagogues is not given enough attention at both the personnel and organization levels. The teachers and managers who participated in the study recognize the importance of continuous improvement of pedagogues, which is a decisive factor in the quality of education, thus providing opportunities for educators to share their knowledge, experience and ideas. Teachers' managerial competence develops important personal qualities – responsibility, initiative and motivation. Pre-primary education teachers as the most important component of managerial competence distinguish planning competence, and the most important function of management competence is considered – organization. From the perspective of the researchers, the effective development of managerial competences requires certain abilities in an organization – the ability to communicate effectively and collaborate, and ability to make decisions. Collaboration facilitates the implementation of innovations in the educational process and develops its management competencies. Teachers' managerial competencies are most pronounced in the planning and organization of educational content and in collaboration with parents of childrens. The most educators motivate their competences to improve their wage, rewards and favorable socio-psychological climate. The organizational culture that gives the opportunity to improve not only the educational process but also managerial skills is important in the expression of managerial potential. The research revealed that in developing the managerial potential of teachers, the personal qualities of teachers (tolerance, self-confidence, motivation of the teacher), as well as pedagogical skills in the organization (ability to learn continuously and ability to cooperate), organizational culture characteristics (assurance of identity, the ability of each member of the community recognition of value, tolerance of different opinions, culture of co-operation). From the experts' point of view, educators are motivated to engage in activities that are not related to direct teacher functions and are interested in improving their managerial competencies. But financial rewards and incentives are important to them. |
