COMMUNITY LEVEL STAKEHOLDERS’ PARTICIPATION IN IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF BASIC EDUCATION IN THE WEST MAMPRUSI MUNICIPALITY

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which community level stakeholders in the West Mamprusi Municipality participate in improving basic education delivery. Specifically, the study looked at the activities that the community level stakeholders perform and the extent to which they engage in those activities to improve access, infrastructure development and academic performance, as well as ensuring effective monitoring and supervision. The sampled respondents consisted of basic school heads and teachers, Circuit Supervisors, School Management Committee, Parent Teacher Association, parents, opinion leaders and students. Respondents were selected using the simple random and purposive sampling approaches, questionnaire and interviews were used as instrument for primary data collection. The study showed that community members were aware of the need to participate in the provision of basic education and saw their participation as very significant to improving education delivery. However, they had little knowledge on the specific roles they needed to play in the school to improve education delivery. The study also revealed that lack of understanding of educational issues, poor communication and lack of resources and time on the part of parents and community stakeholders in general were major setbacks to participation in education delivery in the area. This study also showed that the top three ways of improving education delivery were using local language at meetings, informing community members about positive things happening in the school and ensuring effective communication between the school and the community by involving community stakeholders in decision making about the school. The study advises that all stakeholders need to be focused and edified on their duty to engage in school decision-making processes, as well as ensuring that the funds they work to raise are open and accountable, as to incentives for community participation in the management of public primary schools in the municipality.