Hello. I need advice on this topic

About a year ago, my Dad died, being an owner of a primary school with my mom, thereafter o assumed head of the school, although I run my own freelance engineering installation and maintenance service on HVACs and Diesel engines.

In course of this education line, I'm obtaining my certificate in PGDE( in view).

Now this is the case...

There are some old staff in the school then whom use to collect school fees on behalf of the school and you know Nigerians, instead of remitting the fees to the school, they divert and scam and even go as far as lending money to different people in the vicinity.

However since I took over, I forcefully stopped the collection, and redirected all fees to be paid at the bank. Mhen, it was not small trouble, fight, gossiping, spoiling me at the back etc, but I never listened to such, and right now no one collects these fees again... Everything goes through me coz I'm trying to sanitize it. I also required the services of a registered security company operator (sheriff deputies) for the school

Problems I needed advice

1. Sometimes these rebellion. They gossip and talk evil to people that I'm very harsh etc

2. I have changed 2 security operators because of compromises with these staff. I will give instruction, Buh those they'd do otherwise and bend to what other older staff tell them. Recently, the present security did something contrary and I scolded him toughly. Recently, he had an alteration with a parent and I asked him to just plead with her. He refused blatantly. I was surprised and even my mom too. He said he doesn't like the way I scold him and that's why bla bla bla, infront of all other staff. My mom asked me not to change him Buh I'm skeptical

I already feel like changing him with his company supervisor coz he lives around the vicinity and he now gossips with those old staff who might be telling him I'm too young to order him to do things

4. These old staffs are like friends to my mom and they already carry a lot of influence with most of the parents (which I also cut off too). One of them is wife to my mom's brother

5. My mother has been telling me to be patient even my wife. I do not want to employ an headteacher until I change a lot of things

The school has about 300-350 pupils, and employs 18 staff

Advice needed

Omoh sack them all and do a fresh recruitment. The bad eggs are much, before they ruin your effort.

Jokerman:

Hello. I need advice on this topic

About a year ago, my Dad died, being an owner of a primary school with my mom, thereafter o assumed head of the school, although I run my own freelance engineering installation and maintenance service on HVACs and Diesel engines.

In course of this education line, I'm obtaining my certificate in PGDE( in view).

Now this is the case...

There are some old staff in the school then whom use to collect school fees on behalf of the school and you know Nigerians, instead of remitting the fees to the school, they divert and scam and even go as far as lending money to different people in the vicinity.

However since I took over, I forcefully stopped the collection, and redirected all fees to be paid at the bank. Mhen, it was not small trouble, fight, gossiping, spoiling me at the back etc, but I never listened to such, and right now no one collects these fees again... Everything goes through me coz I'm trying to sanitize it. I also required the services of a registered security company operator (sheriff deputies) for the school

Problems I needed advice

1. Sometimes these rebellion. They gossip and talk evil to people that I'm very harsh etc

2. I have changed 2 security operators because of compromises with these staff. I will give instruction, Buh those they'd do otherwise and bend to what other older staff tell them. Recently, the present security did something contrary and I scolded him toughly. Recently, he had an alteration with a parent and I asked him to just plead with her. He refused blatantly. I was surprised and even my mom too. He said he doesn't like the way I scold him and that's why bla bla bla, infront of all other staff. My mom asked me not to change him Buh I'm skeptical

I already feel like changing him with his company supervisor coz he lives around the vicinity and he now gossips with those old staff who might be telling him I'm too young to order him to do things

4. These old staffs are like friends to my mom and they already carry a lot of influence with most of the parents (which I also cut off too). One of them is wife to my mom's brother

5. My mother has been telling me to be patient even my wife. I do not want to employ an headteacher until I change a lot of things

The school has about 300-350 pupils, and employs 18 staff

Advice needed

Lalasticlala

OK listen, you are doing well, you are a good head master but you need to learn leadership, go to daystar leadership academy next year and how to play the game of diplomacy.

You need to employ new staff to assist the old ones before firing them peacefully.
You also need to enjoy yourself, do not let familiar strangers give you high blood pressure unnecessarily

Also, talk with them and try to reason with the. Else they may secretly be planning to set up their own school that will compete with yours since they have been in the game before you.

Replace them immediately Oga.

Jokerman:

Hello. I need advice on this topic

About a year ago, my Dad died, being an owner of a primary school with my mom, thereafter o assumed head of the school, although I run my own freelance engineering installation and maintenance service on HVACs and Diesel engines.

In course of this education line, I'm obtaining my certificate in PGDE( in view).

Now this is the case...

There are some old staff in the school then whom use to collect school fees on behalf of the school and you know Nigerians, instead of remitting the fees to the school, they divert and scam and even go as far as lending money to different people in the vicinity.

However since I took over, I forcefully stopped the collection, and redirected all fees to be paid at the bank. Mhen, it was not small trouble, fight, gossiping, spoiling me at the back etc, but I never listened to such, and right now no one collects these fees again... Everything goes through me coz I'm trying to sanitize it. I also required the services of a registered security company operator (sheriff deputies) for the school

Problems I needed advice

1. Sometimes these rebellion. They gossip and talk evil to people that I'm very harsh etc

2. I have changed 2 security operators because of compromises with these staff. I will give instruction, Buh those they'd do otherwise and bend to what other older staff tell them. Recently, the present security did something contrary and I scolded him toughly. Recently, he had an alteration with a parent and I asked him to just plead with her. He refused blatantly. I was surprised and even my mom too. He said he doesn't like the way I scold him and that's why bla bla bla, infront of all other staff. My mom asked me not to change him Buh I'm skeptical

I already feel like changing him with his company supervisor coz he lives around the vicinity and he now gossips with those old staff who might be telling him I'm too young to order him to do things

4. These old staffs are like friends to my mom and they already carry a lot of influence with most of the parents (which I also cut off too). One of them is wife to my mom's brother

5. My mother has been telling me to be patient even my wife. I do not want to employ an headteacher until I change a lot of things

The school has about 300-350 pupils, and employs 18 staff

Advice needed

Lalasticlala

Hold a village meeting with them. See if you can increase the salary of some of them, promote them if they are due for it and get new teachers as assistant to the older ones to learn from them. However, know that not every new teacher will want to stay in a place where there is no growth and salary increment. What this means is that don’t treat the older ones anyhow except you want to be changing teachers every now and then. My 1%

Hello OP,
As much as this concerns leadership, it still boils down to people management.

In management communication, there is a concept called "bottom to top" & "top to bottom"
As a top executive of the organisation, create a platform for engagement with all staff. Use the approach of growth as it concerns you, the students and the staff.

Clearly state how you seek to build structure for the organisation. Also attend leadership and management workshop, not neglecting your subordinate to drink out of the knowledge river as well.

On the contrary, do you really shout at staff??

Increase the salary of few and see while other falls on line

OluwaWizzy:
Hello OP,
As much as this concerns leadership, it still boils down to people management.

In management communication, there is a concept called "bottom to top" & "top to bottom"
As a top executive of the organisation, create a platform for engagement with all staff. Use the approach of growth as it concerns you, the students and the staff.

Clearly state how you seek to build structure for the organisation. Also attend leadership and management workshop, not neglecting your subordinate to drink out of the knowledge river as well.

On the contrary, do you really shout at staff??

Nope... I don't, Buh I apply much strictness, and I carry everyone along

The main problem was the fees I stopped staff from collecting on behalf of the school

Salaries aren't owed
We pay on the 25th and 26th
Teachers are allowed to do private lesson without the school collecting any percentage or any fee from them
They are paid lesson money after 3 months( summation)

Things I stopped that made it feel was strict

1. Collection of school fees
2. Free movement to and from the school by introducing movement book and staff signing in book
3. Too much communication between staff and parents
4. Removal of staff from staying at the gate during assembly, I instructed prefects to do that I.e assist the security in transfer and conveyance of loads etc
5. Reduced the use of staff in doing things that the normal headmistress should do

Staff pupils pay half of the school fees pee term

I only shouted at the security man once coz I asked him to do something. He didn't coz I believe he's listening to talks. I have always asked him to flash my number when he doesn't understand something Buh he wouldn't... The next time I asked him to do something, and he refused blatantly, that's he's doing his job and his reason in front of other staff was that he didn't like the way I talked to him.. I wanted to call his company Buh my mom is saying I shouldn't although I would still change him

I feel he's feeling he's older than me, and I can't be ordering him around.

I stopped the collection of fees by this staff because they were using the money anyhow, borrowing other staff money and other people in the vicinity, so much it became a laughing stock. So when I assumed this post, I sent bulk messages to all our parents that school fees to any staff is stopped. Some found it hard to stop, hence why I introduced strictness

Now they go spoiling me this and that. I hear this stuff but I pay no attention to that. At my front, they behave, at my back, Na so so talk

Jokerman:

Hello. I need advice on this topic

About a year ago, my Dad died, being an owner of a primary school with my mom, thereafter o assumed head of the school, although I run my own freelance engineering installation and maintenance service on HVACs and Diesel engines.

In course of this education line, I'm obtaining my certificate in PGDE( in view).

Now this is the case...

There are some old staff in the school then whom use to collect school fees on behalf of the school and you know Nigerians, instead of remitting the fees to the school, they divert and scam and even go as far as lending money to different people in the vicinity.

However since I took over, I forcefully stopped the collection, and redirected all fees to be paid at the bank. Mhen, it was not small trouble, fight, gossiping, spoiling me at the back etc, but I never listened to such, and right now no one collects these fees again... Everything goes through me coz I'm trying to sanitize it. I also required the services of a registered security company operator (sheriff deputies) for the school

Problems I needed advice

1. Sometimes these rebellion. They gossip and talk evil to people that I'm very harsh etc

2. I have changed 2 security operators because of compromises with these staff. I will give instruction, Buh those they'd do otherwise and bend to what other older staff tell them. Recently, the present security did something contrary and I scolded him toughly. Recently, he had an alteration with a parent and I asked him to just plead with her. He refused blatantly. I was surprised and even my mom too. He said he doesn't like the way I scold him and that's why bla bla bla, infront of all other staff. My mom asked me not to change him Buh I'm skeptical

I already feel like changing him with his company supervisor coz he lives around the vicinity and he now gossips with those old staff who might be telling him I'm too young to order him to do things

4. These old staffs are like friends to my mom and they already carry a lot of influence with most of the parents (which I also cut off too). One of them is wife to my mom's brother

5. My mother has been telling me to be patient even my wife. I do not want to employ an headteacher until I change a lot of things

The school has about 300-350 pupils, and employs 18 staff

Advice needed

Lalasticlala

how many u wan change, you go just change tire. my 2cent is to tough it out with them and continue to keep the business sane. Wait till they attain your level of blessing and see if they will allow you near their daily bread talk less of fingering it. I understand where you're coming from and your mum can't publicly support you should in case tides turn, still Kip up d progressive work.

Crystalclara:
Omoh sack them all and do a fresh recruitment. The bad eggs are much, before they ruin your effort.

dont do dis. U may loose alot of students!!! Dey av more experience abt d sch dan u, just thred carefully, maintain good human rlshp and scold does who deserved to be!!! Punishment is good, dont lay dem off

black9:




how many u wan change, you go just change tire. my 2cent is to tough it out with them and continue to keep the business sane. Wait till they attain your level of blessing and see if they will allow you near their daily bread talk less of fingering it. I understand where you're coming from and your mum can't publicly support you should in case tides turn, still Kip up d progressive work.

Thanks bro

Leadership : it may seem sudden that you assumed this position without proper school management training, truth is old hands have wealth of experience, try to be diplomatic with them. Remember command respect not ask for it. You really are asking with irredeemable mistakes.
People management
Diplomacy: approach each issue diplomatically.
Go Digital Things should be done digitally.
Learn from old hands, keep learning.

Crystalclara:
Omoh sack them all and do a fresh recruitment. The bad eggs are much, before they ruin your effort.

Bad move.
Parents keep children in schools not just because of the ease of paying the fees,but also because of the calibre of teachers the school has.
Sacking all shows all is not well in the school.parents will move their kids.

Jokerman:


Nope... I don't, Buh I apply much strictness, and I carry everyone along

The main problem was the fees I stopped staff from collecting on behalf of the school

Salaries aren't owed
We pay on the 25th and 26th
Teachers are allowed to do private lesson without the school collecting any percentage or any fee from them
They are paid lesson money after 3 months( summation)

Things I stopped that made it feel was strict

1. Collection of school fees
2. Free movement to and from the school by introducing movement book and staff signing in book
3. Too much communication between staff and parents
4. Removal of staff from staying at the gate during assembly, I instructed prefects to do that I.e assist the security in transfer and conveyance of loads etc
5. Reduced the use of staff in doing things that the normal headmistress should do

Staff pupils pay half of the school fees pee term

Though, in every organisation there tend to be Gossip. Leadership is vast and all encompass. You can't do it alone. You need to know who belongs to you and who don't. If you don't know whom by 60℅ belong to you, you can't stand the leadership tenets.

What you did to sanitise the school is perfect but your approach is wrong from what I see.

You actually came tough and strict. U frowned at the system you met on ground and it was so obvious.

Even at home, if parents are too tough and complaining, they tend to lose the friendship of their immediate constituents.

Solution;

1. Staff wards fees.. you need to find a way to alienate that; find a policy to lift a burden of paying complete fees on two kinds upward...if it is one, could be a deduction of a certain amount. Teacher must enjoy benefits...

2. You need to win the teachers hearts before you can ask for their hands. Create a meeting forum wherr you become more open, policy driven but friendly.
3. Sacking thm all should be the solution but it depends on the localities your school is situated( you don't want a story of ' I once had a school'.

4. Alternatively, keep doing what you are doing without minding the heat. Soon, they get used to it or leave.

Resign pls ,,,, d job is nt meant for u ( try bet9ja )

in this case all i can say is try and "jide ofor" because some enemies are not happy over ur progress

You are doing the right thing, but you may not be the right person to do it. Gossip is part of day to day office life. Don't worry yourself about those little things.
We have three Decisions in Business Management :
1. Strategic
2. Tactical
3. Operational

Delegates 2 and 3.

Be concern about number 1. Taking the school to the next level in term of
1. How can you get to 1000 pupils?
2. If there is no Secondary, how can you open one?
3.Do you want to have the School in other locations or other States?
4. Does school management fit into your future plans ?
5. Where do you see the school in the next ten, twenty, thirty years?
6. How do you want the school to rank in the state, country and globally?
7. Do you envisage having a University established in the future?


Lastly, communicate and listen to others

God bless you and your family

Never be sympathetic with ur staffs.
Never listen to the gossips.
For u to successfully upgrade and take d school to d next level. U need to or better still have to lay off staffs that are not ready to work with u/ follow ur instructions and employ fresh staffs that u can control. U need to be in charge. If u give orders and they do otherwise then ur not in charge and things will go wrong. Forget sentiments and do d needful. Don't look at ur mum. At d end u will live to thank me. All the best bro.

Please I also need a job. Who can assist. I read biochemistry.

Oga calm down

I can tell u this from experience, even if you're an angel your teachers must talk behind you EXCEPT you give them free hand to do whatever they like and trust me they'll run your school to the ground.

My boss appointed me vice principal and suddenly my fellow colleagues started back biting me and also brought the age card whenever I gave them the simplest task.

My advice to you is just to pay a deaf ear to whatever they say. Just ensure they do their duties and give you your due respect.

Great leaders don't bother what people say behind them

Jokerman:
Hello. I need advice on this topic

About a year ago, my Dad died, being an owner of a primary school with my mom, thereafter o assumed head of the school, although I run my own freelance engineering installation and maintenance service on HVACs and Diesel engines.

In course of this education line, I'm obtaining my certificate in PGDE( in view).

Now this is the case...

There are some old staff in the school then whom use to collect school fees on behalf of the school and you know Nigerians, instead of remitting the fees to the school, they divert and scam and even go as far as lending money to different people in the vicinity.

However since I took over, I forcefully stopped the collection, and redirected all fees to be paid at the bank. Mhen, it was not small trouble, fight, gossiping, spoiling me at the back etc, but I never listened to such, and right now no one collects these fees again... Everything goes through me coz I'm trying to sanitize it. I also required the services of a registered security company operator (sheriff deputies) for the school

Problems I needed advice

1. Sometimes these rebellion. They gossip and talk evil to people that I'm very harsh etc

2. I have changed 2 security operators because of compromises with these staff. I will give instruction, Buh those they'd do otherwise and bend to what other older staff tell them. Recently, the present security did something contrary and I scolded him toughly. Recently, he had an alteration with a parent and I asked him to just plead with her. He refused blatantly. I was surprised and even my mom too. He said he doesn't like the way I scold him and that's why bla bla bla, infront of all other staff. My mom asked me not to change him Buh I'm skeptical

I already feel like changing him with his company supervisor coz he lives around the vicinity and he now gossips with those old staff who might be telling him I'm too young to order him to do things

4. These old staffs are like friends to my mom and they already carry a lot of influence with most of the parents (which I also cut off too). One of them is wife to my mom's brother

5. My mother has been telling me to be patient even my wife. I do not want to employ an headteacher until I change a lot of things

The school has about 300-350 pupils, and employs 18 staff

Advice needed

Fire all workers that can be fired. Keep only that your mom's sister. By diluting the workspace, the seed of greed and bad attitudes is eradicated. Move the woman who's related to you to another department that doesn't deal with managing people and handling money



You see why a mentor or consultant should be hired. I just solved this nagging issue in just few minutes.


You'll need a consultant for the long haul. I recommend it.


Be on the watch out for revenge/diabolical attacks



You don't have a strategy. You need a strategy which I won't say here. Get a consultant to oversee your running of affairs in the school.


No wonder your father died, a good person won't last long in such a toxic place. Who knows what killed the man if they aren't the ones

Hire hard core men-o-war to mercilessly flog the disobedient old men and the rest will fall in line. Jokes apart do whatever will work.

The school has a lot of community influence.

Try contract the security services and mandate them to rotate their staff.

Omo you can't stop teachers from gossip, even if you change them over and over. Just let them know the rules and regulations of the school.

You may want to appoint a deputy Head of school (and HoD) who you use in relating with them.

This absorbs you of directly relating with them while giving you opportunity of second thought after discussing with them. (A little corporate governance, you may call it)


Have a time for general meetings to discuss and hear from them


Put the side talks behind you (you can't get a draw) and be objective in your dealings. Don't be shy in punishing and rewarding when necessary.

Goodluck

@Jokerman

1. The school is yours. It's a business venture and not a charity organisation, so you have to OWN it and make sure it serves that purpose. You've started well by making sure ALL fees are payed into the school's central account rather than have teachers collect and die the money.

2. You have to be tactful and diplomatic when handling people with different personality traits. And this can mean firing staff at the right time, simply engaging them at the right time, rewarding them at the right time etc. That's part of people management.

3. Seperate business from family/friends...seperate emotions from business. ALWAYS have this at the back of your mind, "If that business runs down, EVERYONE will move on and you will be left to carry your cross". No one gives a hoot about your business and you should ALWAYS know when and where to draw the line, else they will gladly run the business down for you.

4. The major stakeholders are the parents who pay the fees to keep the school afloat, not the teachers. Direct 70% of your efforts into constantly engaging them, knowing them personally, listening to them. This keeps you at par with whatever moves the teachers make or even gives you an edge.

5. With the parents firmly on same terms with you, engage with the teachers and staff to make sure everyone is carried along and understands the goal and vision of thw school. Any teacher who drops the ball, who doesn't buy into the vision or who flouts rules CAN be fired and booted out. Afterall, they don't care about you or the business...soldier go, soldier come.

Crystalclara:
Omoh sack them all and do a fresh recruitment. The bad eggs are much, before they ruin your effort.

Seconded!

Jokerman:
Hello. I need advice on this topic

About a year ago, my Dad died, being an owner of a primary school with my mom, thereafter o assumed head of the school, although I run my own freelance engineering installation and maintenance service on HVACs and Diesel engines.

In course of this education line, I'm obtaining my certificate in PGDE( in view).

Now this is the case...

There are some old staff in the school then whom use to collect school fees on behalf of the school and you know Nigerians, instead of remitting the fees to the school, they divert and scam and even go as far as lending money to different people in the vicinity.

However since I took over, I forcefully stopped the collection, and redirected all fees to be paid at the bank. Mhen, it was not small trouble, fight, gossiping, spoiling me at the back etc, but I never listened to such, and right now no one collects these fees again... Everything goes through me coz I'm trying to sanitize it. I also required the services of a registered security company operator (sheriff deputies) for the school

Problems I needed advice

1. Sometimes these rebellion. They gossip and talk evil to people that I'm very harsh etc

2. I have changed 2 security operators because of compromises with these staff. I will give instruction, Buh those they'd do otherwise and bend to what other older staff tell them. Recently, the present security did something contrary and I scolded him toughly. Recently, he had an alteration with a parent and I asked him to just plead with her. He refused blatantly. I was surprised and even my mom too. He said he doesn't like the way I scold him and that's why bla bla bla, infront of all other staff. My mom asked me not to change him Buh I'm skeptical

I already feel like changing him with his company supervisor coz he lives around the vicinity and he now gossips with those old staff who might be telling him I'm too young to order him to do things

4. These old staffs are like friends to my mom and they already carry a lot of influence with most of the parents (which I also cut off too). One of them is wife to my mom's brother

5. My mother has been telling me to be patient even my wife. I do not want to employ an headteacher until I change a lot of things

The school has about 300-350 pupils, and employs 18 staff

Advice needed

So far you have tried here is my advise

You have to have a three step plan

Number 1 divide and conquer

Establish a clear goal : in this case to replace this staff with as little down time as possible and to have the school running seamlessly.

Promote the one with the most influence and gossip tendency , make it unexpected and call him or her out infront of all the other staff and praise this staff abundantly and.thank the said staff for advise in front of all the others then tell them to emulate this staff for growth and ensure that good virtues are.rewarded ensure there is a good salary increase for just this staff and place this staff above all the others , to give them instructions and have the other teachers report to this teacher only no more directly to you

Result: this will break their cabal and breed distrust and you will also have an eye amongst the team

Second phase : prior to this you must have made this teacher above set stringent rules and certain changes that you are certain will.be violated .. make.sure all penalties are announced by this teacher above never you.. ask you NYSc corpers who will be teaching assistants, to some of the other cabal members , you come up with the list yourself but give the list to said teacher to distribute to other teachers , note thr plan is these teaching assistants will.be used to replace this old cargo

Phase three: have this head teacher alot more responsibility to the corpers and announce a monthly best staff reward, make it something you can sustain like 5k monthly to the best teacher the corpers must partake , use influence to ensure corpers win mostly and never announce this yourself but always praise the so called head teacher for such ingenuity

By this time the cabal will be coming to.you to gossip against the head teacher and curry favor always play along

Your management meetings must only consist of yourself, mum.and that teacher
The teacher should have his or her own meetimgs with the other teacher ..never ever meet with them directly


Replacement phase

Have a meeting with the teacher to announce a down sizing , corpers will have to take slack since they are only paid small change.. ask that teacher to recommend two teachers to be downsized

Look what you need is a business development professional

Send me a PM

Be tough ,yes let them adjust to change,mould them to your taste.

serve querry to anyone that wants to be rigid ,if he/she remain the same please replace . That will make others to sit tight.

Surely, you will make friends among them and aslo more enemies but at the end you win.

lastly ,hold meeting with them occasionally and allow them to speak out, you will learn from them too, and don't forget incentives too.

Aknowledge the hardworking ones among them and try to be social at times.

you can get them bag of rice to share among themselves.

K

Jokerman:


Staff pupils pay half of the school fees pee term

@bold what were staff children paying before?

I think you are being too bossy..

Your mum, wife and some staffs cant be wrong..

Take things easy bros