THE PLACE OF PARENTS-TEACHERS ASSOCIATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to examine the role of the parent’s teachers association (PTA) in the development of Secondary   school Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. This study was motivated in part by the numerous governments and other press statement concerning parent’s teachers association leaving in school. Another strong motivation was the need to find out whether the parents’ teachers association as a body pay and meaningful role in the school development and as such, whether it’s continued existence is justified. The investigation was therefore guided by the following.

1.            Whether the educational goals of the parent’s teachers association are in consonance with those of government and the large society.

2.            Whether the parent’s teacher’s association functions are actually contributing towards enhancing the physical, moral, mental development of the school system. To carry the research further, questionnaires were administered based on the three criteria above. The results were analyzed. The following emerged as the research findings.

i.             The physical and educational development of Secondary   school Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.

ii.            Members of the parents’ teachers association wish for the continued stay of the body as an integral part of the body.

iii.           The parent teachers association as a body helps to enhance the development of vocational skills by students.

iv.          The parents’ teachers association does a lot to enhance the development of the community in which the schools is situated.

v.            Members of the parents’ teachers association exact a lot of influence on both the cubiculum and matters of discipline in the school.

The following findings, the following recommendations were made: the Bendel State educational edict of 1986 which is silent on the role of the parents teachers association in Secondary   school should be reviewed to spell out the functions, responsibilities and limitations of the parents teachers association as a recognized body in the school administrative system.

TABLE OF CONTENTChapter one

Introduction

Statement of problem

Research questions

Purpose of study

Significance of the study

Scope of the study

Limitation of the study

Definition of terms

Chapter two

Review of related literature

Origin and growth of PTA

Moral and cultural development

Mental development

Financial education

Chapter three

Methodology

Research design

Population sample

Characteristics of sample

Sampling procedure

Research instrument

Collection of data

Data analysis

Chapter four

Analysis, interpretation and discussion of data

Chapter five

Summary, conclusion and recommendations

Summary

Findings

Conclusions

Recommendations

Bibliography

Questionnaire

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

In Nigeria, education for a long time was almost a private enterprise. The missionaries individual and some voluntary organizations shoulder the respective responsibilities of providing education for teeming and over increasing population of the country. In 1973, the, Bendel State government education edict of the previous year (1972) resolved the ownership and control of educational institutions and of economy from these private organizations individual and religious groups. This was done largely with a view to ensuring that the interest served by education is entirely Nigerian. As would be expressed there was an increase in the number of schools under state control. This brought in the numerous administrative and financial problems. As this situation was not bad enough, the government of professor Ambrose Alli declared free education in 1979, at the same time, Allis government encouraged communities to establish more colleges on their own and also take active part in their day to day running. With the increase in the number of schools and students in 1972, it became clear that government efforts alone cannot sustain the schools system. A direct result of this was that schools financing and physical development also became a partnership between the state government and the people represented by a body known as parent teachers association.

The Bendel state education edict of 1972 earlier given legal backing and encouragement to the formulation of parents’ teachers association in schools. The parents’ teachers association with an executive body of twelve members known as the school committee among others empowered by law to perform the following functions.

1.            Making representation to be board or local teaching service committee as the case may be on matters affecting the school.

2.            Co-ordination of local voluntary efforts such as the provision of financial and assistance to the school

3.            Subject to the provision of this law doing such things as may effectively enhance the tone and efficiency of the schools.

4.            Provision of suitable liaison between teachers and parents on the hand between the parents teachers association and the commission, local teaching committee or the ministry of education, as the case may be on the other.

Inspite of the official recognition of the role of the parents teachers association in the school system, not many people are aware of its function well as its problem. It is for these reactions that the researcher has decided to investigate and evaluate the perceived actual roles and problems of parents teachers association in the Secondary   school system in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS          In this study the researcher intend to investigate and evaluate some of the roles of parent’s teachers association in Secondary   school in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.

RESEARCH QUESTION          The question the researcher intends to find solutions to ere listed below.

1.            Does the parents teachers association assist in the physical development of Secondary   schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State?

2.            How important do the teachers perceive the role of parents teachers association in their schools?

3.            Has the parents teacher association of staff?

4.            Has the parent teacher association bring any promotion to the educational standard of such school?

5.            Does the parent teacher association enhance the relationship among parents, teachers and students?

6.            Is the parents teachers association providing the necessary link between the school and the community?

7.            Is the parent teacher association really helping the students to grow mentally and morally?

8.            Has the parent teachers association participated in the provision and administration of boarding facilities in the school?

PURPOSE OF STUDYThe objectives of this study are:

1.            To determine the role-played by the parent teacher association in the Secondary   school system in Oredo Local Government Area in Edo State.

2.            To find out what are major problems the parents teachers association have been facing

3.            To assist the impact of the parents teaches association in the Secondary   school system in Oredo Local Government Area in Edo State.

4.            To find out if the parent teacher association is lacking in its stated role.

SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY          Educational planners such as school administrators, scholars and ministry of education will find this study very useful as it concerns what the researcher regards as a key issue in the educational system of Edo State. The findings of this research will therefore enable them to know the appropriate steps to take when making decision. This study will also be of immense benefits to other researcher who might wish to investigate the role of the parent’s teachers association or the community in our school system. Finally it is hoped that the research will also be of immense value to parents, teachers and other inquisitive member of our community who might want to know about the role of parent’s teachers association in our school system.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY          The researcher is limited to parents and teacher in some randomly selected Secondary   school Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Parents Teachers Association: This is an association of parents/guardian, of students attending a particular school and the teachers teaching in such school.

The school committee: This is the executive member, its tenure is usually four years after which it can be re-elected by the general assembly of the parents teachers association, if it is satisfied with its (school committee) performance. The committee made of seven parents, one representative of the ministry of education, the principals of the school and three senior of the school. The election of a new Parent Teacher’s Association executive is usually by chief inspectors of education in the area.

Community: The town, village or group of villages where parents and guardians who have children in a particular school live it refers to members of caternent area of the school.

Role: This is used synonymously with function.