What is a school and what are the mandatory books that must be kept by schools

 

*What is school in this context ?*

School is a place where learners go to be educated, where records are written and accounts of pedagogical transactions are kept. The school therefore is a statutory institution, established by law. Individual can sue the teacher and the head teacher of a school. The school can also sue individual. Hence, record keeping becomes an important activity in schools and are official transcription or copies of proceedings of actions, events, or other matters.

It can also be viewed as authentic register or instruments or documents of official accounts of transactions or occurrence, which are preserved in the school office.

The head teacher/Administrator/school owner has the responsibility of seeing to the smooth running of a school.

The extent to which he/she succeeds in carrying out the responsibility depends on a number of factors *and one of them has to do with the records that he/she is expected to keep*

These records give a lot of information about the school which enables him/her to take decisions and also assess the progress of the school.

Educational Laws require some of the records kept in the school, while others are not, but all the same, they are helpful if kept appropriately.

*It is worthy to note that different people such as the head teacher, the class teacher and the Local Government Education Authority or Districts as the case may be, keep different records about the school*

 

 

 

*Classification of School Records:*

School records can be classified into two, by those who keep them. Those kept by the *school Head and the others kept by the class teachers*

Records kept by the Head are stored in the school office, while those kept by teachers are kept in their classrooms.

Lagos State Statutory Records Requirement

1. Log Book

2. Time book

3. Visitors’ book

4. Admission register

5. Daily routine

6. Staff duty roaster

7. Staff movement

8. Punishment book

9. Staff notice/information

10. Staff minute book

11. Head master’s announcement book

12. Transfer certificate Booklet

13. Transfer certificate files

14. Staff individual file

15. Staff posting file

16. Maternity leave file

17. NUT file

18. Query file

19. Hospital book

20. Disciplinary committee file

21. General time table

22. Primary school syllabus/curriculum

23. School leavers’ record

24. School rules and regulation

25. Inspection report file

26. School stock book

27. School staff list

28. School enrolment list

29. P.T.A. minute file

30. P.T.A. project file

31. Handing over notes file

32. Nominal Roll Chart

33. Movement Book

34. Teacher manual

35. Fees receipts

36. Confidential Report form (APER)/leave forms

37. School Organisation organogram

38. Circulars for staff meetings etc.

39. Students’ file

40. Conduct book

41. National Policy on Education

42. Lagos State Policy of Education (Lagos Based Schools)

43. Calendar of school Activities – Term Plan

44. Committee Records

45. Dispatch Book

46. Prefects & Class Captains List

47. Learners Representative Council

48. School Population Analysis

49. Club & Societies Records

50. State Unified Scheme of Work

51. School Self Evaluation

52. School Development Plan

53. Parent’s Forum

54. Laurels won from external competition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Records help the classroom teacher:*

(1) To know pupils when the school year begins

(2) To determine what work a pupil is capable of doing.

(3) To provide learning activities suitable to each pupil to formulate a basis for the intelligent guidance of pupils.

(4) To formulate a basis for the intelligent guidance of pupils.

(5) To explain the behaviour characteristics or unhappy conditions of any pupil.

(6) To make possible the development of unusual capacities or exceptional talents.

(7) To identify and make proper provisions for the mentally slow.

(8) To make assignments to committee work and monitorial positions.

(9) To make periodic reports correctly and on time.

(10) To be properly informed when conferring with parents and others about a pupil.

 

 

 

*Records help the classroom teacher:*
(1) To know pupils when the school year begins
(2) To determine what work a pupil is capable of doing.
(3) To provide learning activities suitable to each pupil to formulate a basis for the intelligent guidance of pupils.
(4) To formulate a basis for the intelligent guidance of pupils.
(5) To explain the behaviour characteristics or unhappy conditions of any pupil.
(6) To make possible the development of unusual capacities or exceptional talents.
(7) To identify and make proper provisions for the mentally slow.
(8) To make assignments to committee work and monitorial positions.
(9) To make periodic reports correctly and on time.
(10) To be properly informed when conferring with parents and others about a pupil.

 

 

 

*Qualities of School Records;*

 

Records must be complete if they are kept regularly;

 

Records must be honestly kept;

 

Records must be retrievable;

 

Records must be backed by original documents and;

 

Records must be valid and tenable of all times.

 

 

*Purpose of School Records:*

Basically, its purpose is to ensure that accurate and proper records of students’

achievement and growth in his school days are kept and; Information on any school matters on such students are made available to users when requested for;

√ It can also facilitate research activities that will promote efficiency and effectiveness of the school system.

 

√ To provide useful information to an employer of labour who may want to recruit graduates” of the school for jobs such as testimonials, transcripts certificates and other relevant letters etc.

 

 

√ To locate each pupil quickly.

 

 

√ To have available the facts significant about each pupil

 

 

√To find if all grade and legal requirements are met.

√ To reduce retardation and failure to a minimum.

√ To find if school funds are adequate and wisely expended.

√ To make important investigations and case study possible.

 

 

 

*

 

 

*Lets look at some policies *

 

Admissions Policy

 

Anti bullying Policy

 

Assessment Policy

 

Child Protection policy

 

Complaints Policy

 

Counselling Policy

 

Curriculum Policy

 

Display Policy

 

Handwriting Policy (Cursive/Nelson)

 

Health and Safety

 

ICT Policy

 

Marking Policy

 

Rewards and Sanctions Policy

 

SRE (Sex and Relationship Education) Policy

 

Staff Development

 

Staff Recruitment Policy

 

Student Leadership Policy

 

Teaching and Learning policy

 

Use of Internet Policy

 

Parents Teachers Association Policy

 

Performance Management Policy