COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND ITS CONTRIBUTION FOR SCHOOL MANAGEMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF EAST HARARGHE ZONE

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to examine the Community Participation and its Contribution for School Management in Secondary Schools of East Hararghe Zone. the current proposed study employed Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods which is “probably the most familiar of the basic and advanced mixed methods strategies” (Creswell, 2014, p. 269). Both qualitative and quantitative data were gathered through closed-ended questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis from sample population. Interview was conducted with the SETB and PTSA the data obtained through interview and documents were analyzed qualitatively by using narrative form to complement with those that were collected through questionnaire. Statistical tools like frequency counts, percentages, average means, standard deviation. The study showed that Community participation in secondary school activities is low. the contribution of community participation in the decision making, contributing resource and evaluating the implementation plan of secondary schools was inadequate. And the contribution of SETB and PTSA members to increase the amount of resource available for school, provision of conducive environment for teaching learning process and to reduce dropout rate and repetition rate of students was not sufficient. Furthermore, the study revealed that lack of training, lack of awareness and lack of commitment and Willingness ,lack of accountability on the part of principals, PTSA and SETB members; and principals „unable to communicate with SETB and PTSA members, lack of understanding their capacity , due to lack of training were affecting community participation. Thus, to alleviate the major problems encountered with community participation recommendations have been for warded .These included PTSA , SETB principals and supervisors members at all levels in the process of school management ,provide clear and specific guide line and sensitize them, provide training to school Principals, conduct meeting, motivate and encourage PTSA and SETB members organizing experience Sharing programs; provide rewards for those who have better performance and replace by new members those who are passive participants in the school activit