Evaluating the Managerial Role of Principals in Public-Sector Colleges of District Khairpur, Sindh

Abstract

This paper examines the role of principals in managerial aspects of public sector colleges of District Khairpur, Sindh in terms of planning, organizing, staffing, and directing, coordinating, budgeting, reporting and co-curricular management. The paper is based on the data gathered from the seminar slides of a descriptive mixed-method study, and hence, the principal is treated as an administrative manager and a learning-focused manager or leader who can influence the learning environment of the college. The study population included public-sector college principals, lecturers of public college and parents of the students of Khairpur. A total number of 8 principals, eighty lecturers and two hundred parents were included in the sample. The data were gathered by questionnaires, interviews and subsequently checked with the experts and processed in SPSS by frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations and qualitative responses coded into themes. Cronbach's alpha was reported as .79, which represents acceptable internal consistency of the questionnaire. The results reveal positive overall attitudes towards principals' managerial performance. Highest agreement was for planning learning activities (93.97 percent; M = 4.11); staffing requirements through deputation (92.50 percent; M = 4.20); directing staff towards on-time working (91.74 percent; M = 3.99); and directing staff towards sports activities (90.55 percent; M = 3.64). The lowest scores were achieved in coordinating (63.21 percent, M = 3.88) and budgeting (86.25 percent, M = 3.55) indicating a need for increased support in the areas of resource mobilization and inter-stakeholder coordination. Qualitative data reveals that the main management issues identified include transport, computer laboratories, science laboratories, shortages of furniture, and drinking water. The paper introduces a Context-Responsive Principal Managerial Role Framework which connects formal managerial functions to instructional supervision and participatory decision-making and local resource advocacy. It is concluded that the principal effectiveness in Khairpur is not just about their leadership skills but policy autonomy, professional development, transparency of accountability and sufficient resources in the existing public-sector governance structure in the present age.