The Degree of Availability of Future Schools` Characteristics: Principals' Perspective at the West Bank Government Schools

Abstract The purpose of this study is to determine The Degree of Availability of Future Schools` Characteristics: Principals' Perspective at the West Bank Government Schools. In addition, the study tries to know the effects of the study`s variables of (gender, qualification, experience, school`s level, specialization, and governorate.) The study population consisted of all principals at the public schools in the West Bank. They were (1607) principals. The study sample consisted of (343) principals, approximately (21. 3%) of the study community. To achieve the goals of the study, the researcher prepared a questionnaire based on literature and related studies. The questionnaire validity was achieved by the referees. The reliability coefficient was computed by Cronbach- Alpha equation. The reliability coefficient of Availability Future Schools` Characteristics was (0. 96). Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) with T-test and ANOVA. The study revealed the following results: 1. The degree of availability of future schools' characteristics: principals' perspective at the West Bank government schools, the total degree for all the study domains reached (3.64) and it is described as a high degree. The order of the domains of the questioner is as follows: future school principal characteristics, the future school curriculum characteristics, the future school student characteristics, then future school building characteristics, lastly future school teacher characteristics. 2. There were statistically significant differences on the level (α=0.05) in the degree of availability of future schools` characteristics: principals' perspective at the West Bank government schools, compared with accepted standard in education (3. 40) in favor of the total degree for all the study domains, in addition to future school principal, student, and curriculum domains. There were statistically significant differences in future schools` characteristics in favor of accepted standard in education (3. 40) in the domain of future school teacher. There were no statistically significant differences in the domain of future school building. 3. There were statistically significant differences on the level (α=0.05) in the total degree for all the study domains, future school principal characteristics domain, and future school teacher characteristics due to gender in favor of female. But there were no statistically significant differences on the level (α=0.05) in the degree of availability of future schools` characteristics: principals' perspective at the West Bank government schools due to the variable of gender on the domain of future school curriculum characteristics, future school student characteristics, and future school building characteristics. 4. There were no statistically significant differences on the level (α=0.05) in the degree of availability of future schools` characteristics: principals' perspective at the West Bank government schools due to the variable of qualification on all study domains, except for the domain of future school principal characteristics in favor of graduated studies principals. 5. There were no differences that are statistically significant on the level (α=0.05) in the degree of availability of future schools` characteristics: principals' perspective at the West Bank government schools due to the variables of gender, qualification, experience, school`s level, Specialization, and governorate on all study domains. 6. The largest frequent problems which face the availability of future schools` characteristics were declared by the principles as follows: • Economic issues and the shortness of school budgets. • Lack of training and qualification of teachers to use technology in education. • Problem of schools` building in terms of size and infrastructure. On the light of these findings, the researcher made the following recommendations; First: The need to connect schools with the world wide web so as to enable the school principal, the teacher, and the student from getting benefit from and be contacted through the future school. Second: The importance of conducting studies and researches by the teachers for self improvement and promoting their qualifications as well as promoting the surrounding community. To add, school principals should be encouraged to fulfill their higher education to raise their academic level besides improving their leading skills. Third: Focusing on employing the electronic capabilities in presenting and teaching the curriculum. Forth: The need to pay attention to teach the students other languages through the curriculum. The aim is to facilitate coping with the global development. Fifth: The necessity of reviewing schools' infrastructure besides creating the features of future school; such as: central heating and cooling, electronic fire alarm, improving the material circumstances for education. Sixth: Conducting more studies and researches in relation to this study and measuring other relevant aspects. Further, other studies and investigations should be carried out in an attempt to tackle the challenges presented by school principals.