Consider each of the following statements.
Indicate whether they are true or false, in your opinion:

• In a school organisation, which of the following is not facilitated by governance?
  • Accountability
    • Incorrect, It is true that governance facilitates accountability in a school organisation.
  • Transparency
    • Incorrect, It is true that governance facilitates transparency in a school organisation.
  • Sound financial management
    • Incorrect, It is true that governance facilitates sound financial management in a school.
  • Allocation of resources across subject areas
    • Correct, Allocation of resources across subject areas is the responsibility of school management, not of governance.
  • Equity and inclusiveness
    • Incorrect, It is true that governance facilitates equity and inclusiveness in a school.
• In open schooling, governance means the same as management.
  • True
    • Incorrect, Governance does not mean the same as management.
  • False
    • Correct, This is correct because governance does not mean the same as management.
• Which of the following factors is not important for the sustainability of an open school?
  • government support through policy.
    • Incorrect, Government support through policy is important for the sustainability of an open school.
  • a clearly defined role for the open school as being an alternative to traditional schooling.
    • Incorrect, A clearly defined role as an alternative to traditional schooling is important for sustainability of an open school.
  • effective management structure to provide good governance at low cost
    • Incorrect, Effective management structure to provide good governance at low cost is important for sustainability of an open school.
  • support for staff development
    • Incorrect, Support for staff development is important for sustainability of an open school.
  • engaging only fulltime teachers to support learners.
    • Correct, Open schooling employs more part-time teachers (facilitators) than fulltime teachers (facilitators).
• In an open school, it is important for the manager to know conditions under which the distributed learners learn.
  • True
    • Correct, It is true that an open school manager should understand conditions under which distributed students study so appropriate support can be designed.
  • False
    • Incorrect, It is true that an open school manager should understand conditions under which students study so as to be able to design appropriate support.
• According to the UNESCO International Bureau of Education, which of the following activities is not a typical governance function in open schooling?
  • Implement school policies
    • Correct, policy implementation at school level is a management and not a governance function.
  • Oversee performance of a school organisation.
    • Incorrect, governance is responsible for overseeing the performance of a school organisation.
  • Set the strategic vision and direction of an open school.
    • Incorrect, setting the strategic vision and direction of an open school is a governance function.
  • Oversee and give direction to the management of a school.
    • Incorrect, governance is responsible for overseeing and giving direction to the management of a school.
• Retired professionals like company managers, school teachers, or accountants can play an important role as members of school governing bodies (SGBs) because
  • They are too old to argue during meetings.
    • Incorrect, It is not correct that retired professionals play an important role as members of SGBs because they are too old or that they argue during meetings.
  • They love children.
    • Incorrect, Retired professionals play an important role as members of school governing bodies not because they love children.
  • They have enough resources to bring along with them from their previous roles.
    • Incorrect, Retired professionals do not necessarily bring along resources with them when they become members of the SGB.
  • They possess important skills and knowledge which can benefit the school.
    • Correct, It is true that retired professionals play an important role as members of SGBs because they possess important skills and knowledge that benefit the school.
  • They are often friendly to school principals.
• It is important for members of a school governing body to be respected people in the community because
  • It attracts more money to the school.
    • Incorrect, Members of the SGB who command respect of the community do not necessarily attract money for the school.
  • It encourages learners to work hard.
    • Incorrect, Having members of the SGB who command respect from the community does not necessarily encourage learners to work hard.
  • It earns the school respect from the public.
    • Correct, Having SGB members who are respected by the community earns the school public respect.
  • It avoids burglaries from occurring at the school.
    • Incorrect, Having members of the SGB who are respected by the community does not help prevent school burglaries.
  • It makes teachers work hard.
    • Incorrect, Having members of the SGB who command respect from the community does not necessarily make teachers work hard.
• An open school should have a decentralised management system to operate effectively enough.
  • True
    • Correct, Because it serves a distributed student population, having a decentralised management system helps an open school operate effectively.
  • False
    • Incorrect, It is true that an open school should have a decentralised management system because of the dispersed nature of the students it serves.
• There is no need of implementing quality management system in an open school.
  • True
    • Incorrect, It is necessary to implement quality management systems in an open school.
  • False
    • Correct, An open school should implement a quality management system in order to enhance the quality of its delivery.
• It is important for open school managers to be familiar with all of the following except
  • Budgeting processes
    • Incorrect, Open school managers need to be familiar with budgeting processes in order to manage school finances well.
  • The different types of costs and how they behave
    • Incorrect, Open school managers need to know the different types of costs so as to control costs of running the school.
  • Planning future enrolments of the school
    • Incorrect, It is necessary for an open school manager to be able to plan future school enrolments.
  • Thinking about appropriate business models for the school
    • Incorrect, An open school manager should be able to think about appropriate business models for open schooling.
  • Creating OER for integration in open school courses.
    • Correct, An open school manager does not necessarily need to create OER, other staff in the school can do so.