The Role of Parents Teachers Association (PTA) on the Administration of Secondary Schools in Nigeria

The Role of Parents Teachers Association (PTA) on the Administration of Secondary Schools in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State

ABSTRACT

This research work is aimed at investigating the influence of PTA on the administration of schools in the Egor Local Government Area of Edo State.

Twenty students were randomly selected from five secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area.

The data was collected using a questionnaire. The data were collected by the use of percentage scores.

The finding of the study shows that:

1. PTA helps to provide transport facilities for schools.

2. PTA helps also in fundraising towards the welfare of the students.

3.  Indiscipline in schools can be attributed to a lack of cooperation between parents and the school authority.

4.  Schools with strong PTA are less liable to riot than schools with strong PTA.

5.  PTA enhances the improvement in the moral academic and spiritual welfare of the students.

The implication of the results was discussed and recommendations were made.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Chapter One

Introduction

Background of the study

Statement of the problem

Purpose of study

The significance of the study

Research question

Scope and limitation of the study

Definition of terms

CHAPTER TWO

Review of Related Literature

Definition of parent’s teacher’s association

Origin of a parent-teacher association

Aim of a parents-teacher association

Functions and achievement of PTA

CHAPTER THREE

Method and material

Population

Sample/sampling techniques

Design of the study

Research method

Method of data analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

Data Analysis and representation of the result

CHAPTER FIVE

Summary

Conclusion

Findings

Recommendation

Suggestion for further studies

REFERENCES

QUESTIONNAIRE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

The act of passing on knowledge from one generation to the other is the role of the parents. The parents are more effective in imparting discipline and knowledge to students at the very grass root level. It is therefore a known fact that all parents have the natural inclination to give their children the good things of life they are capable of providing for them. And in the modern age, the major task is on the provision of quality education and a good standard of living. In the light of this, parents have developed a very positive interest in what goes on in school. It is this interest of parents in the education of their children and wards in schools that gave birth to the organization or formation called “Parents Teachers Association”. During the latter years of the 19th century, the Parents Teacher Association was first organized by a group of women in America. The first meeting called “the national congress of mothers” was actually held in 1877. It was this meeting that stimulated the founding of the national congress of parents and teachers in association in 2000.

The congress of parents and teachers, which now goes by the name Parents Teacher Association {PTA} and the functions, now includes particularly in curricular development policy-making and setting standards in schools.

Abiola A.O. {1967} since the Parents Teacher Association is concerned with the student’s welfare and all-around developments that is why parents are given a role in the administrative administration of the secondary school. This means that the Parents Teachers Association is interested in the cooperation of the school system.

If the school is to achieve its goal, meet the needs of students and fulfill the expectation of parents, there should be a good linkage between the teachers and parents. Parents are experienced people who are conversant with child psychology and development. They, therefore, know the needs of their children at different stages of development. Given this, the parents are in a better position to give useful advice to teachers when necessary. Individual parents could be invited to the school for discussion on their children’s welfare. The principal with the assistance of the staff pointed at the children’s weaknesses and give suggestions for improvement. The parents-teacher association is a forum for teachers and parents to meet and discuss issues relating to the welfare of the parents and teachers. Through the PTA meeting, parents could be educated or enlightened on the discipline and causes of students’ delinquency. Through this, the parents will have an insight into the causes of the student’s problem and know more effective ways of dealing with such a problem. He will also know the danger associated with the ineffective discipline. The organization of PTA in most schools raises several questions as to

a. Whether the PTA provides funds for the school?

b. Without the PTA, can the school not raise funds?

c. How much has the PTA helped in the discipline of students in school?

Really, the PTA provides funds for the school by way of levy or donations.

Secondly, the school cannot raise levy without the PTA. This is because PTA represents the community in which the school is built.

Finally, PTA has influenced the discipline of students in schools.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Many factors give rise to the formation of parent’s teacher associations in secondary schools in the Egor Local Government Area in Edo State. There is likely a lack of schools facilities. It could be due to a shortage of manpower, which may involve PTA’s negotiation. It might be as a result of students’ interest. Again, it may be as a result of inadequate provision of school materials for students. All these problems attract the intervention of the PTA. It is probably whether PTA actually acts to assist schools in matters relating to day to day running of schools. Thus, a formal study of this nature on the influence of PTA in school administration is very important.

PURPOSE OF STUDY

The purpose of this study is to determine the influence of parent-teacher association in the school’s administration especially in the Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The PTA’s involvement in secondary school administration is a kind of helping the government who always emphasizes self-help development and this association help to promote discipline among students by policies formation. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify the influence of PTA in school administration.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions have been drawn up to guide the study.

a. Does the involvement of PTA in the administration of secondary schools influence discipline in schools?

b. Is indiscipline in secondary schools largely due to lack of cooperation between parents and school authorities?

c. Does PTA fundraising contribute towards the welfare of the students?

d. Are schools with strong PTA less liable to riot than those without PTA?

e. Does PTA provide moral support for the students in school?

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The influence of parents’ teacher association in the administration of the secondary school is of great importance. Quite very often, people attribute the success of most secondary school administrations to the existence of strong PTA organizations in schools.

This study is therefore significant in the sense that, it will throw more light on what the students, teachers, principals, and the general public perceived to be the influence of PTA in the administrative machinery of secondary school. Again, as a result of its contributions, the principals might see their shortcomings and be involved in a more effective approach to school administration. The result of the study may provide reliable information on the nature of the principal’s leadership in schools, to the school board of education {state and local}. From this, they may redefine the policy on which subsequent school administration policies will be formulated. Therefore, this would enhance effective teaching-learning and administration in our secondary schools. Other researchers might find the influence of the study useful particularly researchers in the field of school administration and discipline.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

In this study, the researcher will give a brief definition and explanation of the concept used.

School: This is defined as a place for teaching and learning in a formal structure. That is, everything about a school must be there such as a chalkboard, writing desk, chairs, qualified teachers, etc.

PTA: Parents Teachers Association as the name implied is the unionism or coming together of both parents, guidance, teachers inclusive of pupils, students attending primary and post-primary schools of learning.

Administration: This is a social process concerned with identifying, maintaining, motivating, controlling, and unifying formally and informally organized human and material resources within an integrated system designed specifically to achieve an objective. But in an educational context, educational administration is a service activity through which the fundamental objectives of the educational process may be more fully and efficiently realized.

Administration: This is the act of running and controlling the school system, the day-to-day activities carried out in the school are kept in the administration book.

Discipline: This is the means whereby children are trained in the orderliness of good conduct on the habit of getting the best out of themselves all of which are essential to the well-being of the school. On the other hand, indiscipline is the opposite of discipline and it simply put back control.