Education in austerity: exploring parental participation in supporting community schools in two villages of eastern Zambia.
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Date
2023
Authors
Kalimaposo, Kalisto
Mulubale, Sanny
Daka, Harrison
Kaumba, Chivunda
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore parental participation in supporting village community
schools in two villages of Eastern Zambia. The involvement of parents in their children’s education
has long been considered by educational researchers as a significant factor in positively impacting
children’s success. A qualitative case study design was used based on naturalistic phenomenological
philosophy that views reality as multi-layered, interactive and a social experience. The interpretive
method was preferable because it takes into account the significance of context in relation to meaning.
The target population were head teachers, parents, members of the Parent Community School
Committee (PCSC), teachers, civic and village headmen. The study found that the role of parents and
PCSC members in sampled schools mainly focused on infrastructural development of schools and
mobilization of communities for material contributions and labour to the schools. Construction
meetings were compulsory for all members of the community and failure to participate in community
construction attracted a fine of a chicken or confiscation of household goods such as buckets or pots.
The study recommended inter alia that the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders should support
community schools by providing adequate learning and teaching requisites in schools.
KEYWORDS:
Parental participation,
parent community
school committee,
volunteer teachers,
community school.
Description
Article
Keywords
Parents teachers association. , Parental participation--Schools. , Parental participation--Community schools.