International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)

ISSN: 2319-7064
SJIF (2019): 7.583

Community Participation in School Education

Manoj Kumar
Assistant Professor, Doranda College Ranchi, India
Email: ask4manoj[at]gmail.com

Abstract: Kothari commission (1964-66) focused on need of decentralization of school education and involvement of parents and local
bodies in the processes of improvement of school. . NPE 1986 emphasised primarily on decentralized planning and management of
Primary education. A report (1992) was submitted by Veerappa Moily to the government of India on decentralization of educational
planning ensuring greater community participation in education. National Curriculum Framework (2005) also emphasized to
encourage community participation as a means of enhancing quality education. There is a provision to constitute school management
committees in RTE act 2009. This paper focuses on policy and practices of community participation in the school education after
independence in India. It also focuses on international scenario of community participation in the school education. It also identifies
some problems for proper functioning of school committees. Suggestions are given to improvement of proper function of school
committees.

Keywords: Community Participation

1. Introduction law, geography, class, and race. Participation can be referred

in various ways depending on the context that clarifies
Most educationists around the world have been striving hard different level of participation such as participation in „real
to attain the goals of quality education through parents and decision making at every stage, attendance at meeting,
community participation in school. Kothari commission services etc. According Mark Bray (2000), a community has
(1964-66) focused on need of decentralization of school at least some features such as: a network of shared interests
education and involvement of parents and local bodies in the and concerns; a symbolic or physical base; extension beyond
processes of improvement of school. NPE 1986 emphasised the narrowly-defined household; and something that
primarily on decentralized planning and management of distinguishes it from other similar groups. Community
Primary education. Village Committees were further participation in education helps to identify issues and
strengthened with the support of Programme of Action problems in school education. School is a part of community
(POA) in 1992. In 1992, the 73 rd and 74th constitutional and community supports school to give quality education to
amendments provided a basic framework of decentralization every student for the development of the society. According
of powers and authorities to the Panchayati Raj at different to Tanka Nath Sharma (2008), Community participation and
levels. A report (1992) was submitted by Veerappa Moily to involvement follows as First, the community should have an
the government of India on decentralization of educational access to be in the school, learn about the school and
planning ensuring greater community participation in observe what goes on in school. Second step would be to
education. National Curriculum Framework (2005) also make community aware of the situation and make them
emphasized to encourage community participation as a realize the importance of their involvement in schools where
means of enhancing quality education. There is a provision their children are receiving education. Third step would be
to constitute school management committees in RTE act involvement in the management process of the school where
2009. Report of “save the children” (2013) also emphasised their children are learning, they will be ready to get into the
the importance of community participation in the school process of involvement. Fourth step would be decision
education. Role of Parents and Community and its making and be a part of school governance.
participation in school education have been visualized as an
important role in all policy initiatives at national as well as Community participation is a concept that attempts to bring
international levels. different people together for community problem solving
and decision making. Community participation is a way to
This paper focuses on policy and practices of community take responsibility and accountability, to identifying the
participation in the school education after independence in problem, to design and implement programme for the
India. It also focuses on international scenario of community development of the society. Its members include from
participation in the school education. It also identifies some different groups, caste, religion, and sex etc.
problems for proper functioning of school committees.
Suggestions are given to improvement of proper function of 3. Dimension of Community Participation in
school committees. Education
2. Concept of Community Participation Look after School Building and Maintenance and
Facilities
Community refers to a group of people from a common School community member has aresponsibility to monitor
geographic area, caste, sex, religion. According to word proper maintenance of the building and other infrastructure
bank (1999), Communities can be defined by characteristics facilities such as garden, boundary wall, and availability of
that the members share, such as culture, language, tradition,

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Paper ID: SR201224191731 DOI: 10.21275/SR201224191731 1245
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN: 2319-7064
SJIF (2019): 7.583
separate toilet for girls and boys, availability of drinking Benefits of community participation for school education
water, availability of library and laboratory etc. Most of the educationists are realizing the significance and
benefits of community participation in school education and
Supervision also recognized community participation is one of the ways
Community members have responsibilityof supervision of to improve educational access and quality. Community
school administration e.g. attendance and punctuality of participation is significantly correlated to school community
teachers, attendance of students, timely supply of textbooks, relation (Hamdan 2013).Report of “save the children”
notebooks and other teaching materials, abolition of corporal (2013) also emphasis the importance of community
punishment and physical and mental harassment, regular participation in the school education. Community-based
health checkup for children, audit of financial grants etc. approaches to educational development have the potential to
enhance ownership, accountability, and efficiency.
Teacher Hiring Community involvement in education facilitates the
If there is needed a teacher, then community members have identification of community-specific education issues and
a responsibility to hire teachers. Sometime community informs the development of strategies to remove barriers to
member can work as a volunteer. They provided awareness access and quality in education within a given community
programme at all level. (Shilpi Sharma et. al.2014). Deka A. (2016) found that the
overall effect of community participation in school was
Responsiveness positive. There are following benefits of community
How effectively the schools are running and managing to participation in school education.
bring quality education.It means willingness and readiness  Maximizing limited resources
of community member to help students, teachers, and staffs,  Developing need and context-based curriculum
availability for guidance and advice, giving personal  Identifying the problems and addressing
attention and curiosity to help students.  Promoting Girls‟ Education
 Creating and Nourishing Community-School Partnerships
Involvement in Policy, Curriculum and Textbook  Realizing Democracy
Preparation and Distribution  Increasing Accountability
The community member also involves in policy, curriculum
 Ensuring Sustainability
and textbook preparation and distribution. The community
 Improving Home Environment
members have responsibility to develop and design
curriculum and learning materials accordingly the local
context. Community Participation in India: Policy Review
Govt. of India has many policy and planning on community
participation in school education after independent.
According to the World Bank (1999) ways through which
Secondary Education Commission (1952-53) emphasized to
communities can contribute to the school education
construct a managing board of schools to ensure their proper
 advocating enrollment and education benefits;
running and the maintenance of proper standards. The B.G.
 boosting morale of school staff;
Kher Committee (1953) emphasized the need for
 raising money for schools; decentralization of management to attract community
 ensuring students‟ regular attendance and completion; involvement at the grassroots level and involvement of all
 constructing, repairing, and improving school facilities; types of local bodies to promote and manage education in
 contributing in labor, materials, land, and funds; the interest of mass education. Subsequently, the Balwant
 recruiting and supporting teachers; Rai Mehta Committee (1957) recommended that primary
 making decisions about school locations and schedules; education should become the responsibility of the
 monitoring and following up on teacher attendance and Panchayats. Kothari commission (1964-66) emphasized the
performance; importance of community participation in the school
 forming village education committees to manage schools; education. It recommended that it is essential to establish
 actively attending school meetings to learn about intimacy between local communities and school to develop
children‟s learning progress and classroom behavior; quality education in the school. It also recommended that
 providing skill instruction and local culture information; decentralization of education at all levels. It also says that
 helping children with studying; only decentralization of administration and to vest it in the
 garnering more resources from and solving problems local authority is not enough but also provides local
through the education bureaucracy; leadership and trained officers to prepare their duties and
 advocating and promoting girls‟ education; make the necessary resources available to the local
authority. This will be a major task for states education
 providing security for teachers by preparing adequate
department.
housing for them;
 scheduling school calendars;
According to National Policy on education 1986, District
 handling the budget to operate schools;
boards of Education will be created to manage education up
 identifying factors contributing to educational problems to the higher secondary level. Within a multi-level
(low enrollment, and high repetition and dropout); and framework of educational development, Central, State and
 preparing children‟s readiness for schooling by providing District and Local level agencies will participate in planning,
them with adequate nutrition and stimuli for their co-ordination, monitoring, and evaluation. Local
cognitive development.

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Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
Paper ID: SR201224191731 DOI: 10.21275/SR201224191731 1246
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN: 2319-7064
SJIF (2019): 7.583
communities, through appropriate bodies, will be assigned a Special efforts and innovative approaches should be required
major role in programmes of school improvement. to enable illiterate, semi-literate or less-educated parents to
partner with schools in their children‟s learning process.
The importance of community involvement has also been
highlighted in National Policy on Education 1986 The District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) was
(programme of action 1992). It emphasized establishment of launched in 1994 with the assistance of World Bank,
district boards of education, district institutes of education European Commission, and Department for International
and training, and village education committees will go a Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom, the
long way towards the school improvement programme, the Netherlands and the United Nations International children‟s
involvement of the community with the educational process, emergency Fund (UNICEF). Its aim was to operationalize
and creating a new form of accountability of the educational successful total literacy campaign in a favorable climate.
system. DPEP has provided training to over three million
community members and about one million teachers.
The ministry of human resource development GOI, 1993, a
committee on decentralization of educational planning was Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA, 2001) is Government of
set up with Veerappa Moily as its chairman. This report India's flagship programme for achievement of
proposed Panchayati raj structures for management of Universalization of Elementary Education. It also ensures
education and their responsibilities. According to this report that involvement of community participation for the success
there should be three level for management of education and of the programme. Many kinds of community-based
their responsibility as 1) Panchayat level where Panchayat institutions have been involved such as Parent Teacher
comprises single village and village level where panchayat Association (PTA), Mother Teacher Association (MTA),
comprises a group of villages, 2) Panchayat Samiti at the Village Education Committee (VEC) and Gram Panchayat.
intermediate level, Zilla Parishad at the district level.
The government of India has initiated a programme for
National Curriculum Framework 1975, 1988, 2000, 2005 universalization of secondary education, “Rashtriya
have also strengthened the importance of involvement of Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan” in 2009.According to
community members for curriculum development and RMSA, Involvement of Panchayati Raj and Municipal
management of the school. It also focuses the importance of Bodies, Community, Teachers, Parents and other
communities for providing local resource materials. stakeholders in the management of Secondary Education,
through bodies like School Management Committees and
The Right to Education Act 2009 came into force on April 1, Parent – Teacher Associations will be ensured in the
2010. It was an important act in the Indian education. One of planning process, implementation, monitoring, and
the important provisions of the RTE Act 2009 is to evaluation.
constitute school management committees. According to this
act, At least 75 percent of the SMCs are to comprise parents, After independence, time to time, Government of India has
disadvantaged groups, and weaker sections of society and been made policy and Act for decentralization of education.
also thereis arepresentation of minimum 50 percent Many programmes have been initiated to achieve the goal of
representation of women in the committee. The role of decentralization of education.
SMCs in the school is assigned to monitor the working of
school and grants received by the governments or local Community Participation in Abroad: A Review
authority or any other source and preparing a plan for the According to Melvin Allena JABAR (2010), Different
school development which fostering quality education. So practices are going on in Japanese elementary and junior
that it is clear that role of community participation is to high schools for the improvement of quality education such
establish democratic value and ensuring the right to as partnerships between teachers and parents and among
education is a fundamental right. parents through parental involvement.

Ninth five year plan says that it is equally necessary that the Japanese schools provide great involvement of parents in the
problem of universal elementary education and literacy is school. It provides information about school norms and
tackled through a strong social movement with clearly policies, children‟s work. Japanese school also provide
perceived goals and involving the State and Central parental participate as volunteers. For example, parents
Governments, Panchayati Raj Institutions, Urban Local gather for cooking classes, recycling activitiesand story
Bodies, voluntary agencies, social action groups, the media tellers. Schools in Japan also provide seminars for parents to
and every supportive element in society. The tenthfive-year improve their own efficacy in educating and rearing their
plan also emphasized to the involvement of the community children. In elementary school, parents are provided to
and it will be made more systematic by involving the attend skills training on various areas such as ironing,
panchayat raj institutions (PRIs) and urban local bodies. sewing, cooling, reading etc. it also provide a seminar on
VECs, Mother-Teacher Associations (MTA) and Parent- proper use of mobile phones and the internet etc. it makes
Teacher Associations (PTA) would have a formal role in the parents be aware of how such technologies can negatively
management of schools in the village. Twelfth five year plan affect their children. Parents play a pivotal role in parent-
also emphasis involvement of parents in the school teacher associations as decision makers in Japanese schools.
management to bring quality education. Effective Parents have more power than teachers to make decisions
functioning of SMCs and Parent Teacher Associations about the affairs of the association. Parents are initiated PTA
(PTAs) is essential for quality education in the school. activities and not by the teachers. Parents have also decided
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Paper ID: SR201224191731 DOI: 10.21275/SR201224191731 1247
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN: 2319-7064
SJIF (2019): 7.583
the disbursements of funds. PTA meeting is also called by In Austria, since the 1980s a schools autonomy scheme was
PTA officers from various schools to discuss matters which introduced school management. The main role of this
are needed to school children. Apart from those types, there scheme was to enhance the involvement parents. A board is
are two other important roles of parents as partners of constituted by a representative of parents and students in
teachers and other parents. There are open and available each class by voting. Since 2000, boards and other
communication channels between teachers and parents in the community representatives control the management of
Japanese school. Teacher visit to his/her students‟ homes to schools.
talk with the parents about school concerns, child‟s talents
and abilities, and child's safety. The teacher also uses In Brazil, the school board has the authority and
another communication channel to convey messages to responsibility of school management under the decentralized
parents about school events and student‟s performance. The framework of education. At present, the principal has not
other role of parents is partners of other parents. It is used to authority utilizing the resources of school without the
convey information to parents regarding school-related approval of the board. The teachers, students, and parents
matters over the phone. Schools are also provided a are the members of the school board. Involvement of the
network-type directory to parents containing children‟s community in school management more significant to
names, their corresponding contact numbers, and increasing enrolment, retention of the children.
chain/order of communication. There is also children
association which is a community-based group consisting of In Nepal, new provision for the SMC in the 7 thAmendment
school children and parents. It is another platform where has wide implication in the implementation of educational
parents can interact and exchange ideas pertaining to their programs and plans for enhancement of quality education.
children's education. Children associations are also involved The School Management Committee have a significant
garbage recycling and camping activities organizing by involvement in improving the management efficiency,
parents. efficiency related to planning, monitoring, supervision, and
evaluation of the schools. There is a legal process for
Tanka Nath Sharma (2008) reviewed international practices electing four representatives from guardians or parents
of community participation in school education. Based on including one female member in the management
this reviewed community participation of some countries are committee. Nepal has another community involvement
presented in the following section. which is Parent Teacher Association (PTA). The main role
of PTA is to strengthen the quality of teaching learning,
In Denmark, Parents have played a huge role in running of advice, the school about fees structure and communicate the
schools. In 1990, Boards of school governors was created parent and community about the educational programs of the
for the role of parents which is to strengthen decision school.
making in the school governance. Five – seven members are
in each board among parents, including two members from According to Nancy Kendall (2007), a number of state of
school and two from students. The boards are responsible South Africa (Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda) has
for developing guidelines for school‟s activities, approving adopted fee-free or fee-reduced basic education. A wider
the school budget and making the curriculum. Danish group of stakeholders, including sub-national government
parents are very responsible for their children‟s schooling. personnel, teachers, and principals, parents, and occasionally
students are involved in the construction of frameworks for
In England, the governance of schooling provided power or improvement of quality education. Parental and community
greater autonomy of decision-making by schools. 9-20 involvement in schools has been affected quality in a
members are in governing body in each school which are number of ways such as providing an oversight of school
elected by parents and staff members and governing body budgeting and teacher attendance and performance;
nominated additional community governors. The main role managing student attendance and homework; providing
of the board of governors are to provide direction for school resources (labour, money, etc.) for school building, teacher
governance, ensure accountability, participate in decision- hiring, and other school infrastructure and services; and
making, control of the school budget for purchase of books, advocating at local and national levels for changes that may
equipment, stationary and other goods and service. The improve educational access, retention, and completion.
governing boards also play a core role for new appointments
of teachers and, staff member. According to D. T. Gamage (1993), In USA, Annual
Conference of State Governors, education reform was made
In Finland, New Basic Education Act of 1999 provides a in 1986. Two broad strategies were emerged, school site-
significant role of co-operation of parents for school based governance and choice. Site-based management was a
education development. Schools haveright to design their plan for improving schools governance. It proposed two key
own curricula based on the National Framework of Core strategies for achieving this goal. a) The transfer of power to
Curriculum with the help of parent-teacher meetings, make decisions regarding budget, staffing, and instruction,
parents‟ meetings, discussion events and one-to-one from the central/regional offices to the individual schools. b)
discussions between individual teachers and parents. Participation of all stakeholders such as administrators and
staff, teachers, parents, and the local community in decision-
In Span, there are two parents association: Spanish making at the individual school level. Different strategies
Confederation of Parent Associations (CEAPA) and were adopted by each state to improving the education
National Catholic Confederation of Parents (CONCAPA) system. The Education Improvement Act enacted by South
which take part in the management of schools. Carolina in 1984, the following had seven main components
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Paper ID: SR201224191731 DOI: 10.21275/SR201224191731 1248
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN: 2319-7064
SJIF (2019): 7.583
which affect the operation of schools. i) raising student their own resources for the school. Special efforts are made
performance by improving academic standards; ii) by PTA and teachers to enrol all children with special focus
strengthening the teaching and testing of basic skills; iii) on gender equity and promotion of education of the girl
elevating the teaching profession by strengthening the child include all migrant children–most of them from Orissa
training, evaluation, and compensation of teachers; iv) and Bihar.All HMs under that Panchayat are apresented
improving the leader- ship, management, and fiscal report of PEC in monthly or bimonthly meetings which is
efficiency of schools at all levels; v) implementing strict chaired by Sarpanch.
quality controls and rewarding productivity; vi) creating
more effective partnerships among schools, parents, In Bihar, Bihar Vidyalaya Shiksha Act of 2000 provides for
communities, and business people; and vii) providing school the election of Vidyalaya Shiksha Samiti. VSS roles are for
buildings conducive to student learning. In Chicago, supervision of civil works, oversee financial transaction,
comprehensive legislation introduced decentralisation from organise campaigns to enrol out of school children and girls,
1990 for governance of the school. Each school should be ensure that they are retained.But VSS are not involved in
governed by an elected council consisting of eight any academic matters of inside the classroom.
representatives of the parents and community, two teachers
with the principal as an ex-officio member. Each council is In Karnataka, Village Education Committees have been
authorised to appoint the principal on a four-year contract, formed through a special government order 2001. The
allocate budgetary resources, and prepare long-term plans Chairman of VEC is from the elected Panchayat. The
for school improvement. The principal is entitled to appoint government introduced the Namma Shale (My School–a
teachers on merits. School-community connect programme) in 2007 which run
in four clusters in four districts. This programme has7
Community participation in the school education is not a important stakeholders-teachers, parents, children, SDMC
new term in the developed country. It has been initiated to members, CBO members, GPs and government education
achieve the goal of decentralization of education in the department. All are involved in all the school development
1980s. It has been also initiated in the many developing issues from monitoring to capacity building.
countries to bring the quality education. It has a great impact
to bring quality education. Many developed and developing Nagaland Government had brought an enactment Nagaland
countries have been made policy and Act for education Institution and Services rule 2002, on 15 April
decentralization of education. 2002 for communitisation of elementary education. The
VEC has certain administrative, academic and financial
Initiatives by states for community participation power and function to manage elementary education in the
In Rajasthan, Shiksha Karmi project and Lok Jumbish village. The VEC has the administrative functions to
project, these two projects are externally aided projects for disbursing salaries and granting casual leave to teachers and
basic education for universalization of education with a the staff of the school, procure furniture, stationery, etc. and
quality education in the remote and socially backward select/recommend the appointment of substitute teachers
villages with a special emphasis on community participation against long term vacancy. The academic functions of the
in these project. Shiksha Karmi Project of Rajasthan was VEC include to ensuring universal enrolment and retention
initiated in 1987. The village communities (VECs) have a of all children aged 6-14 years, implementing annual plans
great contribution to the improvement of the school and programmes of the government, and ensuring free
environment, infrastructure and facilities, enrolment of textbooks reach the children and the mid-day meal is well
children through school mapping and micro-planning in the managed.
Shiksha Karmi School. The project covers 2,708 villages in
147 blocks spread over 31 districts (10th planning In Madhya Pradesh, Jana Shikshan Adhiniyam promotes
commission report). decentralisation of school education. The Jana Shikshan
Adhiniyam (JSA) act provides for PTA and Teachers
Lok Jumbish was launched in 1992 by GOI and GOR with Association which has a responsibility to ensure enrolment
support from Sida. Lok jumbish project has been set up for of all children, monitor regular attendance of teachers,
innovative management structures on the principal of mobilise local resource persons for teaching, monitor
decentralization. It aims is to build apartnership with local ongoing learning of children and organise remedial
communities and the voluntary sector to improve quality education and mobilise resources for small requirements at
education. It has a positive contribution to thedevelopment the school level. Inclusiveness is promoted through
of improving MLL based textbooks for class I-IV.It has community member.
conducted school mapping in 8,921 villages, opened 2,560
Sahaj Shiksha Centres covering 47,000 children and started In Gujarat, VEC and Ward Education Committee was
529 new primary schools and 268 upper primary schools, enacted in 1996 and approved in approved by the legislature
239 pre-school centres of anganwadis and formed over in 2003. There is also a different level of decentralised
7,600 Mahila Groups. (10th planning commission report). structures–District, Taluka, and Village. District Panchayat
has a vest to recruit primary school teachers through a staff
Decentralisation process was initiated under the Kerala selection committee. The funds for Meena Manch,
Panchayat Act Amendment 1999.Members of PEC are Residential Alternative Schools, payment of Bal Mitra
Panchayat Education Committees and Ward members. The salaries, Civil Works, Disbursement of teacher and school
schoolplan is developed by the PEC and all the funds are grant and IED grant for CWSN have now been transferred to
routed through the Panchayat and some of the Panchayat use the village level or the school level.
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Paper ID: SR201224191731 DOI: 10.21275/SR201224191731 1249
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN: 2319-7064
SJIF (2019): 7.583
In 2008, the Government of Tamil Nadu had made the roles Information System (SEMIS), implementation, monitoring,
and responsibilities of the Village Education Committees. evaluation and taking corrective/remedial actions on all the
Local bodies/school committees also look after the components/interventions of the scheme- infrastructural as
maintenance of school buildings. well as academic and others, at the school level. The
committee maintain all the relevant records for recurring as
Andhra Pradesh, Academic Monitoring Committees have well as non-recurring expenditure. These records are
been created under RTE act 2009. They are involved to updated on regular basis and placed before the committee in
monitor the quality of education such as teacher absence, every meeting. These records and progress on each
teachers have to take permission of AMC to take leave, civil component/ interventions of the scheme are also placed in
works, and other infrastructure and student progress. the meetings of Panchayat / Urban Local Bodies.

Time to time, about all states have initiated community The School Management and Development Committee is
participation in the school education. Accordingly, they have assisted by two sub committees, School Building Committee
made policy and plan for the community participation in the and Academic Committee, headed by the Principal and Vice
school and it has positive impact on the education system. Principal respectively.

Current status in community participation in school The School Building Committee is responsible for all the
education activities including planning, estimation, management,
School level committees have been created in all most states monitoring, supervision, reporting, maintenance of
under SSA programme. They are known as different name Accounts, monthly squaring up of accounts, presenting
village education committee, school management accounts before the School Management Committee or
committee, school development and management Panchayat or Urban Local Bodies etc. relating to
committee, parent-teacher association, academic monitoring, construction, renovation, repairing and maintenance and
teacher association etc. In force of Right to Education Act other related civil works.
2009, School Management Committee (SMC) have been
created by states to achieve the goal of decentralization of The Academic Committee is responsible for all academic
education. activities including planning, management, monitoring,
supervision, reporting, and collection of data for SEMIS etc.
At Primary Level: The Academic Committee is responsible for ensuring quality
All government, government aided and special category improvements, equity, reducing barriers- like socio-
schools shall have to constitute economic, gender and disability, teachers and students
attendance, recommending teachers for training, guidance,
SMCs as per Section 21 of the RTE Act. Since private and counselling, students achievements, co-curricular and
schools are already mandated to have management extra-curricular activities and overall academic and
committees on the basis of their trust/society registrations. It personality development of students and teachers.
is a permanent body, the president and members shall have a
term of three years. Key function of SMCs are Parent teacher association and mother teacher association
 Making School Development Plan (SDP) as per the RTE have co-existed with SMCs and SMDCs at both primary and
guidelines/norms secondary level. The role of PTA is to conduct meeting at
 Management of school least one day in a month and present before SMCs and
 Supervising and supporting implementation of SDP SMDCs to register complain and give a suggestion for the
 Supervision/monitoring of finance, management, proper functioning of the school. All states have been
academic progress, distribution of entitlements & other created their own guideline for SMC, SMDC.
functions
 Ensuring accountability and transparency in the system Problems in community participation in school
through the social audit mechanism education
 Keeping proper accounts of the fund available and sharing According to recent research reviews, following problems
its deployment and utilization with the „Aam Sabha‟ are found in community participation in school education
 Creating and maintaining an educational database
Problem-Related to SMC Meeting
 Coordinating with the local authority, generating funds
 Lack of co-ordination of teachers and parents. Teachers
from other sources for development of schools
fail to communicate timings of the meetings and parents
 Monitoring academic progress of the children
fail to attend. They also found that barriers for the
 Instituting social audit mechanism and processes to bring
functioning of SMC such as Cultural Barriers,
transparency in the system and ensure universal
Corruption, Political Pressure, communication. (Shilpi
participation
Sharma, et al. 2014)
 The low percentage of meetings were organised at the
At Secondary Level
cluster level For SMC member. (Panda B. N. 2014).
RMSA framework provides that every secondary school
have to construct a school management and development
Problem-Related to Awareness
committee (SMDC) at the school level. This committee is
 Lack of awareness among SMC about RTE 2009
responsible for all the activities including, planning, a
(Mozhiyarasi K.S. 2016).
collection of data under Education Monitoring and

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Paper ID: SR201224191731 DOI: 10.21275/SR201224191731 1250
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ISSN: 2319-7064
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 SMC members were not aware much regarding their duty such as academic, administration, function of the school,
(Shivam P.K. et al. 2015). preparation of curriculum etc. but in India, parents are
 Lack of awareness of PTA, lack of Membership in PTA, ignored in curriculum preparation.
lack of participation in school planning, lack of training
programme on the role of PTA, Lack of awareness of Community participation is not a panacea to solve every
financial grants. (Vasanta Srinivasa Rao, 2012) issues and problems of school education but it facilitates to
 Local elitism, Decreasing interest of community bring quality education in the school. It is decentralization of
members, Illiteracy and low educational level, Lack of school governance for enhancement of quality education.
interest on the part of political leaders and bureaucrats, There are various policies and practices of community
Dearth of human resources fit for the work is a major participation in foreign countries. Communities are involved
problem of the field, Lack of expertise in the planning, in many areas such administrative, academic and financial
Lack of propaganda and ensuring awareness (Tripathi power and function of school etc. In India, many of policies
K.K. 2011). are recommended for community participation in the school
education for enhancement of quality education. After RTE
Problems Related to Developing School Development Act 2009, it is essential for constructing community board
Plan for each school. Indian states have made their own rules for
 Functioning of SMC such as no democratically elected community formation for school education. Many of
body, totally HM has to lead SMC, no adequate resource research findings show a positive result of community
material to develop skill, the gap among gram panchayat, participation in the school education. But the ground reality
SMC, parents and teachers (Pawar S. 2016). is that many of places, communities are not working
 Lack of SMC member's awareness, Lack of fund for properly. So only making of policies and acts are not enough
School Development Plan, lack of interest among poor for it. Now education system is going to be privatised. Many
and illiterate parents is the main problem of participation of schools are running under private body. Are they
in SMC meetings. (Mohalik R. & Bhattacharya D. 2015). following rules, regulations, policies, and acts? Then, how
 There was a significant relationship in the level of can we achieve the goal of decentralization of education?
functioning of school management committee in Only set objectives of the RTE Act of 2009 regarding
awareness of RTE Act and utilization of grants, meeting community participation in school will be materialised, if
of committee and preparation of school development training programme, awareness and motivational
plan (Mozhiyarasi K.S. 2016). programme, proper should be made at grass root level. SMC
should be monitored by higher authorities.
Suggestions for improvement in community
participation References
There are following suggestions for improvement in
community participation. [1] Bray, M. (2000). Community Partnerships in
 The training programme should be given to all teachers, Education: Dimensions, Variations and Implications.
HMs and community member about current amendments Education for all 2000 Assessment, UNESCO.
(RTE, 2009). [2] Gamage, D. T. (1993). A Review of Community
 Awareness programme should be organized at village Participation in School Governance: An Emerging
level about community participation. Culture in Australian Education. British Journal of
 Democratically, community members should be elected. Educational Studies, Vol. 41, No. 2 (Jun., 1993), pp.
 Proper communication should be established between 134-149.
school and community members. [3] Government of India (1957). Report of the term for the
study of community projects and national extension
 SMC should be straightened and monitored by higher
services, New Delhi.
authorities
[4] Government of India (2002).The Constitution (Eighty-
 Community linkage programme should be organized at
Sixth Amendment) Act.
all level.
[5] Government of India (2009). The right to education
 The involvement of SMC members needs to improve in act.
the daily activities of the school. [6] Government of India (1953). B.G. Kher Committee
 Meeting should be organized for SMC member at all report, New Delhi.
level. [7] Hamid, et al. (2013). Effect of community
 SMC members should be motivated to take part in all the participation and school community relations, Middle
school activities such as identifying school going East journal of scientific research 16 (3):378-382.
children, admission drive, convincing parents for sending [8] Jabar, A. M. (2010). How do Japanese schools
children to school promote parental involvement? International journal of
social sciences and humanity studies Vol. 2, No 1,
4. Conclusion 2010 ISSN: 1309-8063 (Online).
[9] Kendall, N. (2007).Parental And Community
Most of the educationists claim that community participation Participation in Improving Educational Quality in
enhances the quality of education. In the developed country, Africa: Current Practices and Future Possibilities.
community participation is important for the school International Review of Education URL:
governance and its impact is positive. Community http://www.jstor.org/stable/27715424
board/council has much authority for school management
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Paper ID: SR201224191731 DOI: 10.21275/SR201224191731 1251
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN: 2319-7064
SJIF (2019): 7.583
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Paper ID: SR201224191731 DOI: 10.21275/SR201224191731 1252