Eureka! Institutional Repository

During the last five 5 years in Greece’s centralised educational management model crucial and structural changes took place as far as it concerns organisation and administration of school units. These changes are the object of the particular research, and in particular studying the transfer of the approval for work leave from the Administration of Primary Education to the school principals. Specifically, the opinions of 47 school principals and 87 teaching staff working in primary education concerning the minister’s decision Φ.353.1/26/153324/Δ1/25-09-2014 (ΦΕΚ 2648τ.Β’/7-10-2014), putting the change in effect, were examined. The research also studied the legislative basis that this decision presumes on and the consequences that this change had on the management of the school unit. Moreover, the impact on the autonomy levels of the school principals both in their pedagogic and managerial functions was recorded. The research method of this work involved quantitative methods and the means of data collection, a questionnaire, was developed with valuable input from the supervisor of this work. The questionnaire is divided along 5 axes. To evaluate responses, Crombach’s Alpha and reliability statistics were used. The processed results revealed that the educational staff possess a satisfactory level of knowledge regarding the educational law and regulations that govern leave in specific. Also, the school principals and teaching staff cooperate seamlessly and efficiently on matters of work leave, which creates a positive school climate. In conclusion, based on the researcher’s evidence it turns out that Administrations of Primary Education support school units both in organisation as well as in keeping them up to date with current legislation. Therefore they contribute in advancing team spirit and effective communication by establishing trustful and respectful relationships among principals and teaching staff.