Improving quality primary education: The impact of community participation

Abstract

Qualitative change in our primary education system is the most important priority of the day. The previous two decades have seen the increase of the enrollment and drop out rate and decrease of illiteracy rate in primary education. However, there are still over one million primary school age children who do not attend formal primary schools. One of the causes of not improving quality in primary education is lack of community participation. In this study, the researcher has tried to investigate the role of community participation for enhancing quality primary education with a focus on present status and impact of Community participation. In order to compare the impact of community participation, 9 Good Community Participation Schools (GCPS) and 9 Less Community Participation Schools (LCPS) were conveniently selected from 3 Upazilas of Tangail District as the sample of the study. A total of 216 Participants including UEOs, AUEOs, Teachers, SMC, PTA, LGR members and Parents were also selected. Data were collected by questionnaires, FGDs, and Interviews. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were applied for analyzing the data. For major findings of the study, it was found that there was a good cooperation between school and community in Good Community Participation schools. The SMC, PTA, LGR, and SLIP members and guardian\Parents had co-operated with the teachers for the work of child survey, student admission, text book distribution, student attendant and removing drop out. The SMC, PTA members and Parents donated fans, clocks and various furniture like, chair, benches and almira and managed para teachers for the schools. In order to increase learner’s enrollment and attendance the teachers arranged posturing, miking, rally. They also visited the absentee learner’s houses. To remove drop out and increase primary cycle completion rate the teachers supplied free paper and pencils for the poor learners by the help of SMC members and parents. The SMC members observed the learners activities and took care of their reading. In order to 100% pass in PSC the teachers, SMC, PTA and parents arranged a special class and model test for class five learners. The parents\guardians discussed with teachers about their children’s education quality. They knew in which class their children read in and their class position. They also arranged a reading corner in their houses for their children. Regarding the interaction between school and community the quality primary education level was god in Good Community Participation schools. But, the situation was not satisfactory in Less Community Participation schools. Most of the SMC, PTA members and Parents / Guardians were irregular in meetings / gatherings. Though some of them were attendant in meetings/ gatherings but, they did not take part in discussions and not gave their opinion.