INSTITUTIONAL PLANNING

INSTITUTIONAL PLANNINIG Meaning Institutional planning has been treated as the basic unit
or grass- root level of the larger educational planning. When a plan is prepared by a particular
institution on the basis of its own development and improvement, we call it institutional planning.

“Institutional planning is a programme of development and

improvement prepared by an educational institution on the basis of
its felt needs and the resources available or likely to be available,
with a view to improving the school programme and school
practices. It is based on the principle of optimum utilisation of the
resources available in the school and the community.” –M.B.Buch.

Institutional Planning: Meaning,

Characteristics, Needs, Purposes,
Scopes, Procedures of
Institutional Planning.
Institutional Planning: Meaning, Characteristics, Needs, Purposes, Scopes, Procedures of Institutional
Planning. – ONLINE NOTE BANK (wordpress.com)
Date: 12/03/2020Author: ONLINE NOTE BANK2 Comments

Meaning and Definition of Institutional Planning:

Institutional planning is the lowest level of national planning. The term implies
that this type of planning is related to educational institution. This plan refers to
the detailed programme
of action that is initiated, formulated and implemented by individual
educational institution.Thus, the member of the institution gets the opportunity to
take part in planning process.

In regard to the concept of institutional planning, M.B.Buch (1964) defines,

“Institutional
planning is a programme of development and improvement prepared by an
educational
institution on the basis of its felt needs and the resources available or
likely to be available, with
a view to improving the school programme and school practices,
constitutes a plan for an
institution. It is based on the principle of optimum utilisation of the
resources available in the
school and the community.”

The above definition signifies that (i) Institutional planning is a programme

prepared for development and improvement of school programme and school
practices of the educational institution. Here, school programme means the
curriculum and the syllabus used in teaching-
learning process. (i) School practice means the entire teaching-learning process
of the institution i.e.
teaching method, strategy, skill, model, lesson plan. (ii) Institutional planning is
prepared by the
educational institution itself (iii) this planning is prepared keeping view on the
needs felt by the
institution (iv) It is a plan for an institution (v) This plan gives importance to utilise
available
resources at best possible in the school and the community.

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Characteristics of Institutional Planning:

After going thoroughly the concept and definition of institutional planning, the
following main characteristics of the planning are determined.
a) Institutional planning is the basic unit of educational planning. It begins from
grass root level.

b) Institutional planning is goal-oriented. It aims to improve the quality of

educational institution. It is prepared on the basis of its own development and
improvement.

c) It is task oriented. Because, it needs co-operative working culture in the

institution.

d) The teaching and non-teaching staff, parents, students, supervisor officers and
other educationists in the locality takes part in institutional planning. Local
community is also part of this planning.

e) Institutional planning is prepared to achieve within a fixed period of time. It

may be short-term or long-term duration.

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Need of Institutional Planning:

The necessities of institutional planning are as follows:

1) Improvement of Educational Institution: The significance of institutional

planning is
to develop and improve the programme of school or college. Institutional
planning is
systematic, adequate and clear. This planning is systematic because it leads to
achieve at the objectives following organized steps. It is also sufficient and
satisfactory for the
institution. It plans the daily class routine, academic calendar; maintain record
books and examination system etc. This planning is repeated in the same school
from term to term
and from session to session.

2) Proper Direction to Educational Planning: Institutional planning gives the

right direction to the educational planning in the country. Because, the general
educational planning is based on institutional planning. The administrators,
teachers, parents, students, educationists and social reformers are involved in
decision making and formulation of Institutional planning. Hence, it can be
expected to attain at effective
educational planning.

3) Maximum Utilization of Resources: Institutional planning ensures use of

local resources and other resources available in the institution. Local resource
means locally available physical and human resources found nearby the school
or college. This planning emphasize on involvement of local people situated
nearby the institution. So, it leads to use the available resources at optimum level
so that the scarcity of resources can be avoided.

4) Contribution to National Development: Institutional planning has a unique

role to build the Nation. We have known that educational planning is the
ingredient of the
overall national planning and institutional planning is the grass root level of
educational planning. So, it can be elicited that the plan and programme of
institutional planning is important and vital for development of the country.

5) Encouragement to Individual Teacher: Individual teacher of the institution

are benefitted from institutional planning. They get the opportunity for creative
thinking and
motivated towards work. Thus, the work of the institution may be effective.
6) Democratization of Planning: Democracy provides all people equal
opportunity to take part in decision making and administration of the institution.
Institutional planning is a
decentralized process. The students, the teachers, the parents and the head of
the institution take part in this planning process. So, it democratizes the process
of planning.

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Purpose of Institutional Planning:

The purposes of educational planning are stated below. Let us study it.

(i) Autonomy: The main purpose of institutional planning is to give autonomy to

the institution to take decision regarding aims and objectives of the school or
college, to fulfill the needs for improvement of the institution, to determine some
successful attempt to achieve at
realistic and practicable goals and to plan its overall development.

(ii) Stability: Another purpose of institutional planning is to give stability to the

institution. Stability means steadiness and permanence of the institution. Stable
situation help to done each work of the institution smoothly, continuously and in a
planned and systematic
manner. Thus, the policies, programmes and procedures of the institution can be
improved.

(iii) Solution to Problems: The functions of educational institution can be made

easy and smooth by creating a healthy cooperative working environment and
mutual understanding among staffs. The teaching and non-teaching staff of the
institution cooperatively works for
making solution to the problem of the institution. Elite group of teaching staff and
merit students influence the administration of educational institution.

(iv) Educational Improvement: Institutional planning improves objectives of the

institution, working condition, teaching learning process, curricular and co-
curricular
programmes, evaluation etc. Thus, the capacity and efficiency of staff and
students are improved.

(v) Progress: Institutional planning helps the administrator to take independent

decision regarding development of entire educational system and future progress
of the
institution. Thus, an institution is able to plan both long term and short term
institutional planning. It ensures good foresight and vision for the school or
college. Institutional planning
assured discrete identity of the institution in the society.

(vi) Utilization of Resources: Resource is the essential part of educational

institution. There are three types of resources in an educational institution:
physical, human and finance. Institutional planning ensures utilization of these
resources properly.

(vii) Beneficial to the Local Community: An educational institution has close

relation with the community. Institutional planning helps to take steps for
improvement of local community. The institution helps to become aware of
problems arises in society.

(viii) Contribution to General Planning: Institutional planning is the part of

general educational planning. It is the lowest level of planning. It contributes to
develop educational
process at local, district, state or even the national plans.

Scope of Institutional Planning:

The scope of institutional planning included all aspects of the educational

institution.

Curriculum– Curriculum is the sum total of experiences that influence the

learning behavior of students within the campus of educational institution. It helps
student to acquire
knowledge and to inculcate social values. Institutional planning includes within its
scope the organization of the curriculum prescribed in the institution. The
authority of the institution also
organize the remedial teaching for slow-learners and organize of seminars,
conference etc. in the
institution for knowledge upgradation of both teachers and students. It also
implements the syllabus prescribed by government or higher educational
authority.

Teaching Materials – The planning involves within its scope development and
utilization of instructional materials and audio-visual aids according to demand of
subjects and
classes. It also includes the purchase and distribution of library books,
magazines, journals, question papers of previous years etc. in the library.
Building- An educational institution has different types of rooms for different
purposes. It plans to construct the classrooms, library, laboratory rooms,
auditorium, teacher’s room, common room for students, and separate toilet for
boys and girls. It also plans to spend money
on construction, maintenance and repair of school building from time to time,
whenever needed.
Drinking water facility, sanitary facilities, mid-day-meals, medical facilities etc. are
other functions to be implemented by perspective planning.

Evaluation: Institutional planning covers within its scope the evaluation system
of the institution. It prepares routine for internal examination including class test,
unit test, half yearly examination and annual examination. The school or college
also arranges two important
functions for students regarding external examination as the registration of
students to higher
educational body and form fill up of students for external examination. Do you
understand the term ‘external examination’? It refers to examination system
controlled by examination body outside of the institution i.e. the question papers
are set by external examination controlled body and answer scripts are also
checked by teachers from outside of the institution.

Co-curricular Activities– You have known that modern education is child

centered education and one of the primary function of education is harmonious
development of the
students. So, it is the responsibility of the institution to make an atmosphere
within the institution so that students obtain the chance to develop their physical,
mental, intellectual, social and aesthetic aspect of personality. Institutional
planning gives importance on building of attitude,
moral behavior. The institution should organize physical, literary and social
service activities.

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Procedure of Institutional Planning:

The steps of institutional planning are as follows:

1. Analysis of Present Position: The first step of institutional planning is to

survey the need and demands of the institution. The planners should verify the
quality of available
physical resources as well as human resources and the teaching learning
programme. So, the plan is prepared depending upon the needs of community,
availability of resources
and utilization of manpower. Institutional planning should be based on the
national policy, educational aims and objectives and the latest educational
theory.

2. Survey of Resources: A survey is made to collect the accurate data about the
resource of the institution. Besides the physical resource of the institution,
government assisted funds
and social resources also strengthen the resource of the institution. Therefore,
priority should be given to resources.

3. Preparation of Plan: A comprehensive plan is prepared to solve the problem

of the
institution. At first, the plan is printed and time is estimated. A budget for proper
cost is also prepared and the eligible person for the plan is selected. The major
plan of the institution includes the following aspects:
Construction of Building, painting, maintenance, electricity facilities, teaching
aids,
teaching procedures, instructional material, academic calendar, student welfare,
school campus, library, laboratory, hostel, play ground, examination system etc.

4. Implementation of Plan: The fourth step of institutional planning is to

implement the plan in right direction at right time. Head teacher, teachers, non-
teaching staff, parents,
public, educationists and students implemented the plan in the areas of the
institution. Works are specialized among people for smooth functioning of the
plan.

5. Evaluation of Plan: During implementation of the institutional planning, the

strength and weakness of the plan is evaluated periodically by teachers. The
periodic evaluation is beneficial for planners to judge the quality of implemented
functions and accomplished objectives; to correct the errors of the actions and to
provide remedial measures whenever
needed.

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Limitations of Institutional Planning:

One of the limitations of institutional planning is lack of adequate knowledge

among administrative bodies and teachers of a school or a college about the
scientific procedure of institutional planning. In India, there is lack of awareness
among teachers and administrators
about long term planning.

Sometimes lack of efficient administrator in the school or college may hamper in

development of the institution. Lack of co-ordination among teachers and
administrators also effect on it. The fund of the institution should be sound
enough. Lack of adequate money in the
fund of the institution may slow down the functions.
The Procedure of Institutional
Planning (Steps)
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The Procedure of Institutional Planning (Steps) (yourarticlelibrary.com)

Institutional Planning is a complex idea, which is to be followed

intensively and worked out scientifically. So every school should
prepare an institutional plan for itself independently on the basis of
some common procedures.

The major steps in the procedure of institutional planning

are as follows:
1. Analysis

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2. Survey

3. Improvement

4. Implementation

5. Evaluation

1. Analysis:
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For effective organisation of institutional planning, the Planning

Board formed by the head of the institution should analyze the present
situation in respect of the needs of the institution. In this respect the
head of the institution should hold a meeting of the staff with the
Board in order to see that some pre-requisite conditions are fulfilled.

These pre-requisite conditions are whether:

(i) The school building is spacious enough to adjust with the present
needs.

(ii) The equipment and furniture are adequate.

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(iii) The laboratory and library facilities are adequate.

(iv) The present staff is adequate.

(v) The school needs additional components like hostel, staff quarters,
school bus, more play-grounds etc.

(vi) The examination system needs reform.

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Again, there should be another meeting of the Board in order to

identify the areas of improvement. It needs much physical and mental
effort. So all the members should discuss in the meeting more
seriously.

2. Survey:
The headmaster and the staff of the school should make a survey of the
existing resources and the resources that can be easily available.
Statistical facts and figures regarding enrolment, staff, equipment,
books, examination results etc. must be placed before the Board for
ready reference.

There are three categories of resources such as:

1. Resources in the school e.g., the building equipment, library,
laboratory, etc.

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2. Resources easily available through the Government.

3. Resources available in the community, e.g., public library, museum,

hospital, banks, factories, technical institutions, state departments,
local educationists, doctors, engineers and other useful persons living
in the locality etc.

The Board should make the best of the community resources for the
benefit of the students. It should bear in the mind that the
institutional planning would aim at the maximum use of the available
human and material resources.

So it should organize educational tours and excursions to the places of

educational interest in the locality such as historical and geographical
places. In this regard the Board may take the help of the Parent-
Teacher Association. The Board may request the Doctors, retired
persons and other persons to deliver lectures to parent-teacher
associations.
3. Improvement:
ADVERTISEMENTS:

After careful consideration, a list of improvement programmes for the

school may be prepared with details about each programme. The
programme may be short-term and long-term programmes. Each
improvement programme needs to be defined in terms of utility of the
school and financial implications if any.

It should limit itself to the total improvement of the school and should
not suggest work for the district educational authorities or demand
funds from the Directorate of Education for its implementation. It
should clearly indicate the time limit for its implementation. So the
programme can be short-term or a long-term one, depending upon the
circumstances and needs of the school.

4. Implementation:
The Board will make a selection of the projects that are to be
undertaken during the ensuing session. Lastly, the project must be
executed through the material and human resources available at hand.
Here, the head of the school must seek the full cooperation of his staff.
A time-schedule of the improvements of the project must be prepared.

Implementation of the plan means putting of the programmes and

projects outlined in the plan in operation. So, it should be neither too
ambitious to be implemented nor too modest to make any appreciable
improvement. It should, therefore, be a working project on the
capacity of teachers, the needs of the pupils and the locality. The head
of the institution should see that it starts making progress in the right
direction.

5. Evaluation:
ADVERTISEMENTS:

The success of the plan is determined by its evaluation. There should

be adequate provisions for evaluating the plan progress from time to
time. The degree to which the targets set are being achieved at
different stages of the plan, must be assessed from time to time. At the
completion of the project, the end-product of output or the result must
be assessed qualitatively and quantitatively. The {periodical evaluation
will make the running of the school in a systematic manner. So every
institutional plan should be put to rigorous evaluation at fixed
intervals.

Planning in a scientific way, is now a special project, a part of the

educational process. So a school can build a task-oriented plan for
actual execution and implementation taking into consideration, the
actual needs and the available resources of the school. According to
S.S. Mathur, “The Institutional Planning can only be successful if the
following changes are brought about in the educational administration
of the country.”

(i) State Education Departments are oriented towards a new mode of

thinking. They look to the plan of each institution with sympathy and
understanding and do not just start cutting and pruning it wherever
they like.
(ii) The principals, teachers and other officers are trained in the
preparation and also in implementation of the institutional plans.

(iii) The Grant-in-aid rules are modified so that:

(a) Each institution has adequate freedom to pursue its own course of
development, and

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(b) An encouragement is given for achieving excellence.

(iv) Different educational institutions help each other, they also try to
avoid duplication of effort and are always prepared to gain from the
experiences and experiments of the other institutions.

(v) Good schools get all the encouragement to experiment with the
new ideas.”

It may be said that institutional planning is not a very easy affair. It is

now a complex idea, which is to be worked out scientifically. Its
success depends on the attitude, training, a will to face realities and a
co-operative spirit among the planners at each level of educational
hierarchy. So institutional planning is a cooperative affair, undertaken
by all the staff members of the school, who will realize their full
responsibilities and duties.

The plans should be drawn in such a manner that within the resources
available, the development is maximum and the chances of returns to
the investment made are the greatest. Thus, institutional planning
means an organised way of doing things of an institution. It leads to
the attainment of objectives through intelligent approach to the
utilization of the resources of the institution. The NPE, 1986, in
chapter “The management of Education” has described that, “An
overhaul of the system of planning and the management of education
will receive high priority.”
The guiding considerations will be:
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(a) Evolving a long-term planning and management perspective of

education and its integration with the country’s developmental and
manpower needs;

(b) Decentralisation and the creation of a spirit of autonomy for

educational institutions;

(c) Giving pre-eminence to people’s involvement, including

association of non-governmental agencies and voluntary effort;

(d) Establishing the principle of accountability in relation to given

objectives and norms.”

The NPE 1986 has also recommended that special attention will be
paid to the training of educational planners, administrators and heads
of institutions. Institutional arrangements for the purpose should be
set up in stages. So the NPE and POA have emphasized the importance
of decentralising planning and management of education at all levels
and involving people in the process.
In pursuance of the POA provision the State Government have been
taking steps to set up structures for decentralised planning and
management from the centre to the states, from the district to sub-
district and panchayat levels. It means, we should start with planning
form below, from the very grass-roots, what we call, “Institutional
Planning”.