IMPACT OF PARENTAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN SCHOOLS ON TEACHER ATTENDANCE IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA: CASE STUDY OF EAST MAMPRUSI DISTRICT.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of parental and community involvement in schools on teacher attendance in Junior High Schools in the East Mamprusi District. The East Mamprusi District had experienced poor teacher attendance to schools in recent years which adversely affected the quality of education in the area. The study adopted a survey design with mixed method approaches to obtain both qualitative and quantitative data. The population for the study comprised one hundred and fifty (150) participants. Cluster sampling was used to sample (3) circuits while simple random sampling was used to sample (3) schools, (15) PTA executives, (12) GES officers and (30) teachers. Three (3) head teachers were sampled by convenience sampling while purposive and systematic samplings were used to sample (90) parents. Self-constructed questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from teachers and parents and the data analysed using SPSS version 20. Interview guide was also self constructed and used to collect qualitative data from (15) PTA executives and (12) GES officers and the data transcribed and analysed descriptively. Results of the research revealed that, parents and communities were involved in school management. Effective parental and community involvement in schools had positive impact on teacher attendance. Ethnicity; wealth; illiteracy and poverty were identified as challenges in parental and community involvement in schools. It was concluded that parents and communities’ involvement in schools had little impact on teacher attendance in the study area because parents were not well informed about educational policies as well as their duties and responsibilities in the schools. It was recommended that effective sensitisation should be given to PTAs/SMCs and parents by Ghana Education Service.