SBM is best described as?

• A. Decentralized approach empowering local school leadership.
• B. Centralized control from the national level.
• C. Focus on online instruction only.
• D. Emphasis on high-stakes testing.

Answer: (A)

SBM, or School-Based Management, centers on shifting authority for school operations to the school level. It empowers local leadership—principals, teachers, and often parents or community members—to participate in governance, planning, budgeting, and the monitoring of school improvement. The idea is to tailor decisions to the school’s unique needs, improve accountability, and strengthen ownership of outcomes.

This differs from options that emphasize centralized control from higher authorities, focusing only on online instruction, or prioritizing high-stakes testing. SBM is about who makes the decisions and how, not about the delivery mode or testing emphasis. Key features typically include school improvement plans, delegated budgets, autonomous decision-making at the school level, and active community involvement.