By Dr. Mushtaque B Barq
The exercise, in the first place, was both thrilling and challenging. However, as the saying goes, “Well begun is half done.” After interacting with colleagues and aspirants, two observations emerged as common. First, faculty members who have been in the system for over a year are generally familiar with the school’s vision statement and its significance. Similarly, educators teaching in the upper grades appear well-versed in the vision statement. In contrast, those who are new to the system, including recently joined educators, tend to have limited or no information about the vision.
In a few instances, participants reported that accessing additional resources, such as scanning the school website, helped them during this exercise. This is understandable, as educators in higher grades or with more experience have likely encountered the vision statement more frequently and are thus better able to recall it (Senge et al., 2012). This trend also applies to experienced faculty members.
This leads to a pertinent question: Why do new members and aspirants fail to recall or even recognize the vision statement of the school? Upon reflection, I realized that there were no visible signboards displaying the vision statement throughout the campus. I firmly believe that strategically placing signs at key locations—such as the assembly hall, sports field, library, laboratories, and corridors—can significantly help aspirants and faculty members remain continually aware of the school’s vision. Visual reinforcement in shared spaces plays a critical role in shaping school culture and values (Deal and Peterson, 2009).
Another area for improvement is the induction process. During induction sessions, the vision statement should be prominently displayed on a large screen and read multiple times to familiarize new members with it. Repetition and visibility contribute to better internalization of institutional values (Fullan, 2007). This approach should also apply to recently joined faculty members.
I suggest that the daily assembly include a reading of the school’s vision statement. Additionally, the vision should be displayed in every classroom to serve as a constant source of inspiration for both educators and learners. Consistent exposure to a shared vision can motivate stakeholders and align them with institutional goals (DuFour and Eaker, 1998).
All stakeholders should also be encouraged to hold formal meetings that revisit the vision statement and collaborate on aligning school practices with it. In this way, the vision statement will evolve into a daily practice, both inside and outside the classroom. Even school events such as annual functions, farewell parties, and other gatherings should be framed in the context of the school’s vision, thereby institutionalizing it as a core protocol. Once this protocol is established, the vision statement will be followed in both letter and spirit.
