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 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 Parents Teacher Association is concerned with the student’s welfare and all round developments that is why parents are giving a role in the administrative administration  of secondary school. This means that the Parents Teachers Association is interested in the co-operation of the school system.

          If the school is to achieve its goal, meets the needs of students and fulfill the expectation of parents, there should be 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 difference stages of development. In view of this, the parents are in a better position to give useful advice to teachers when necessary. Individual parents could be invited to school for discussion on their children welfare. The principal with the assistance of the staff point at the children weakness and give suggestion 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 students problem and know more effective ways of dealing with such problem. He will also know the danger associated with ineffective discipline. The organization of PTA in most schools raises a number of questions as to

a.            Whether the PTA provide fund for school?

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

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

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

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 association in secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area in Edo State. It is likely that there are lacks of schools facilities. It could be due to 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 school in matters relating for 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 schools administration especially in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The PTA’s involvement in secondary school administration is a kind of rendering assistance to government who always emphasis 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 QUESTION

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

a.            Does 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 fund raising 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 secondary school is of great importance. Quite very often, people attribute the success of most secondary school administration to the existence of strong PTA organization 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 the influence of PTA in the administration  machinery of secondary school. Again, as a result of its contributions the principals might see their shortcoming and involved in a more effective approach to school administration . The result of the study may provide reliable information on the nature of principal’s leadership in schools, to 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 brief definition and explanation of he 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 chalkboard, writing desk and 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, student 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 with in integrated system designed specifically to achieve an objective. But in 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 of the school system, the day to day activities carried out in the school are kept in the administration  book.

Discipline: This is the means where by children are trained in 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 of control.

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