An assessment of community participation in school management in ilu aba bor zone primary schools

Abstract

The intention of the study was to investigate the current practices and major problems of community participation in twenty selected primary schools of Ilu Aba Bor Zone. Specifically, the present study was planned: to assess the level of community participation in school management, the role played by the school principals in enhancing community participation, the strategy that help to enhance community participation and factors that hinder community participation in primary school of the Zone. The study included 228 respondents: 150 teachers, 20 principals, and 10 vice principals, 8 supervisors, 20 Parent Teacher Student‟s Association heads and 20 Kebele Education and Training Board heads drawn from twenty primary schools of the Zones. Data were collected using questionnaire, interview, focus group discussion, and document analysis. The data obtained through questionnaire were analyzed using statistical tools like percentage, frequency, mean and standard deviation. Moreover, data gathered through interview, focus group discussion, and document review were analyzed in narrative form to complement the questionnaire. According to the results of analysis, community participation in school management was below the medium value (i.e. less than 3). The finding of the study indicates that the status of community participation in the management of primary school of the Zone was insignificance. And the participation of community in formulating the school strategic plan, monitoring and evaluation of the school resource was not sufficient. Furthermore, the study revealed that lack of training, time and poor economic status, long distance between residential areas and meeting place, lack of commitment and willingness, lack of appreciation of overall objectives of education and lack of accountability on the part of community and principals „unable to communicate with Kebel Education and Training Board and Parent Teacher Student Association members, lack of understanding their capacity, non-participatory leadership approach, and lack of training were affecing community participation negatively in primary school management. Based on the findings, it was concluded that the practices of community concerning to formulating strategic planning, securing the school resource, participating in teaching learning process, school principals working with community, undermining skill and knowledge of community affect the participations of community. Because of such poor act, performance of education was adversely affected. In line with the above findings and conclusions, it was recommended that, Woreda Education Office better to do develop the awareness community about how to participate in management of the school, School principals/administrative body had better to practice and implement democratic and participatory leadership style, Woreda Education Office should develop ways of encouraging Parent Teacher Student Association and Kebele Education and Training Board members, school should set the program of capacity building to fill the skill gap of community, and provide constructive feedback regularly