THE ROLE OF PARENTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION PTA ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN EGOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE

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 dierence 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 sta 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 eective ways of dealing with such problem. He will also know the danger associated with ineective 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