Tag Archives: Conflict Resolution

ROLES OF PTA IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION

THE ROLES OF PARENTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION (PTA) IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN UMUAHIA EDUCATION ZONE, ABIA STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the Study

The involvement of parents in the conflict resolution in secondary schools is a development that seems to challenge practitioners engaged in school reform despite being a required component of many school improvement initiatives. A growing body of research such as Charles and Senter (2004), Johnson and Duffet (2003) and Iqbal, Tatlar and Zafar (2011), show that successful parent involvement improves not only student behavior and attendance but also positively affects student achievement. Despite this important observation, many schools in most countries including Nigeria continue to struggle with defining and measuring meaningful parental involvement, and many do not feel that their efforts are successful.

The findings of a survey conducted in the United States of America revealed that approximately 20 percent of new teachers and nearly one fourth of principals identify their relationships with parents as a cause of significant stress in their jobs (MetLife, 2005). There is therefore need for parents to step in through the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), and forge a good relationship between teachers and students, as this will go a long way in enhancing discipline in the schools.

The Parents Teachers Association, like the name indicates, is an association, comprising Teachers and Parents. It is obvious from the name, that such an association is formed for the welfare of children/students in mind and the welfare of the school in general. National Congress of Parents and Teachers, also National Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), a child and youth advocacy volunteer group, the largest of its type in the United States, founded in 1897 in Washington D.C. (Microsoft Encarta 2007).

Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) is a voluntary and welfare organization that brings together the major stakeholders in education, which are the parents, guardians and teachers of pupils in a particular school. They help in fund-raising, maaddintenance of discipline, seeing to the welfare of the school, and creating a bound between the school, the home, and the community, between the parents and the teachers and building parent involvement at school and other activities relating to the welfare of the school, rather than the progress of individual pupils. Eze, (2008) defined P.T.A as “a membership organization for parents of students/pupils and teachers of schools. The associations are groups made up of parents, teachers and sometimes others within the school community. They provide a range of opportunities for parents or care givers to be actively involved in supporting schools, for the overall benefits of their children. The importance of PTA cannot be over emphasized, especially now that it is clear that government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility of providing qualitative education for every citizen.”

PTAs may have varying aims and objectives depending on the country where they operate, but there are some universal aims and objectives that seem to cut across all regions (Iqbal et al. 2011). They are charged with the responsibility of working for the well-being of every student of the institution, in the home and in the society. They can also enhance awareness and understanding of parents to the fact that they have a vital role to play in the provision of quality education. They encourage parents‟ involvement in improving the standard of the institutions. It is also their duty to create awareness among the people involved that optimum use should be made of the educational facilities being offered by the government. PTA also aims to motivate parents especially in the rural areas, to send their children to school. It is their responsibility to find ways and means to decrease students‟ dropout ratio and teacher absenteeism in the institutions. They can achieve all these by developing a congenial and harmonious relationship between parents and teachers avoiding bureaucratic rigidity on either side (Iqbal et al. 2011). The researcher sought to find out if the PTAs in Umuahia   were carrying out the above stated roles effectively, which can enhance discipline in the students and produce good results.

The Parents Teachers Association was set up, not to take over the running of schools from the principals, or school administrators, but to complement the efforts of government and school staff, for the well-being of everybody in the school environment. Government needs to step in and improve on the modalities for improving the participation of the PTA in the administration of schools.

Teachers need not feel that the PTA is taking over their jobs, school administrators should not feel that their jobs are being taken over by the PTA; the PTA would know their limits and not interfere but allow the experts to do their jobs. With proper intervention by the government, school authorities and staff would accept the PTA, and PTA’s, help would be better taken by them.

Government should also specify the role the PTA can play, in planning, organizing, decision making, motivating staffing, budgeting etc. bearing in mind some of the suggestions already made, like the 1976 edict of the then Abia State government, section 18 (6) which state as follows:

  1. To show such intimate interest in and concern for the affairs of the school as to ensure the achievement of high moral standards and academic excellence in co-operation with the Board of Governor or the school community as the case may be.
  2. To provide an effective link between the home and the school.
  3. To assist the Board of Governors or the school committee in ensuring cordial relationship between the school and the community.
  4. To give moral and financial support to the school.
  5. The Parents Teachers Association may make representation to the authorities in the interest of the welfare and progress of the school, its pupils/students or staff but shall not otherwise directly interfere with the day to day administration of the school.

From the above it would be seen that the role of the PTA in secondary school is much, but government must come out clearly to empower especially the PTA’s of government schools. PTA helps in disciplinary matters, such as conflict resolution and by helping the school decide what proper punishment to give to earring students, how best to motivate both staff and students, bridging the gap between the home and the school, support the school financially; This could be done by the PTA helping to equip the school, make some repairs, buy some infrastructural facilities needed.

1.2     Statement of the Problem

The level of discipline maintained in secondary schools will largely depend on the willingness of the school principal to enlist support from PTA members in conflict resolution (Kiumi, Bosire and Sang, 2009). In spite of existence of PTA in all public secondary schools in Umuahia Education Zone, the high prevalence of conflict and indiscipline cases among students connotes a serious disconnect between parents, teachers and students.

In teaching and learning process, individuals interact in order to realize educational objectives within schools, as such; there are various reasons for conflicts to occur within the schools. For example, a study by Msila (2012) on conflict management and leadership stated that majority of schools leaders lack understanding of their leadership roles. However, a study in Malaysia by Salleh (2013) identified insufficient resource such as finances and lack of facilities as well as heavy workload and dissatisfaction with management as some of the sources of conflicts.

Similarly, a study by Uchendu et al. (2013) conducted in Nigeria cited sources of conflicts as; inadequate facilities and funding, conflicts among staff members, conflict among students, personality factors, and role conflicts. Besides, the researchers also argued that highly ‘connected’ teachers break school rules and regulations and absent themselves from school which makes school management a problem for leaders.

The role of PTA in conflict resolution is therefore central to effective and efficient organization of school management (Ramani & Zhimin, 2010). Since conflict is natural in any organization, the resolution must rationally deal with it so as to create ways which maximize its benefits and minimize its dysfunctional consequences. To be able to develop a workable approach to conflict management, understanding the root causes of conflicts is therefore critical. This study was therefore designed to identify the role of PTA in conflict resolution in secondary schools, and to determine which strategies are used to manage and resolve such conflicts.

Conversely, the delayed attempt to remedy the situation has tremendously lowered quality and standards of education in Nigeria (DEO, 2013). This study has set out to ascertain the roles of Teachers Association (P.T.A) in conflict resolution in secondary schools.

1.3     Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to the roles of Parents Teachers Association (P.T.A) in conflict resolution in secondary schools in Umuahia Education Zone, Abia state.

Specifically ascertains:-

  1. The role PTA can play to help resolve conflicts in secondary schools
  2. The PTA activities used in enhancing discipline effective;
  3. How to improve the relationship between the school and the PTA;
  4. How to improve PTA participation in providing infrastructures and equipment in secondary schools.

1.4     Research Questions

  1. What role does PTA play to help resolve conflicts in secondary schools?
  2. What extent are the PTA activities used in enhancing discipline effective?
  3. How can the relationship between the school and the PTA be improved?
  4. How can PTA participation in providing infrastructures and equipment in secondary schools be improved?

1.5     Scope of the Study

The Zone is made up of four local government areas with 53 public junior and senior secondary schools. The content area focuses on the role of PTA members in conflict resolution in secondary schools.

1.6     Significance of the Study

The significance of this study is classified under two groups, the theoretical and practical significance. The theoretical significance of this study is based on the system theory, while the practical significance is based on the direct beneficiaries which includes among others; the school principals, administrators, teachers and parents. It will also enable the stakeholders in education to appreciate the roles of the PTA in conflict resolution in secondary schools.

From the findings also, the importance of involving the PTA in the administration of secondary schools will be appreciated. The study might initiate more studies in different areas, on the role of the Parents Teachers Association in schools.

 

Click to: DOWNLOAD @ NGN5,000/USD20

 

Loading

ROLE OF COMMUNITY GATEKEEPERS

ROLE OF COMMUNITY GATEKEEPERS IN PEACE AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

ABSTRACT

The study examined The Role of Community Gatekeepers in Peace and Conflict Management with reference to Kasuwan Magani Community as a case study. Objectively, five research questions were formulated. The survey design was used in the study. The sample size was 400. 400 questionnaires were administered to the respondents, but 278 questionnaires were found valid. The data gathered were analyzed using simple percentage and mean. The findings revealed that conflict avoider, accommodator, compromiser, problem solver, competitor interactive communicator are the qualities of the gatekeeper… Based on the findings, conclusion was drawn and recommendations given that the government should give necessary training to community gatekeepers on conflict resolution and management to prevent crime in our society, set up a monitoring committee on peace building to look into the activities of gatekeepers to main law and orders in our society… .

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.0       Introduction

Where nations, societies and communities abide and commune for social interaction, business and other trade relations, there are bound to be disagreements (conflicts) and it is worthy of mentioning that if  these disagreements are not properly managed, it can progress into violent conflicts. Wilmot and Hocker (2001) stated that conflict is “an expressed struggle between at least two interdependent parties who perceive incompatible goals, scarce resources and interference from others in achieving their goals. In another vein Adamu (2016) defined conflict as any form of interruption in the succession of events amongst or between two or more persons or groups that can even lead or cause harm, danger or injury on either or both parties. Thus, it is important to note that the end result of conflicts is usually a huge loss of lives and property. The understanding and conceptualization of conflict have led to a multiplicity of definitions and explanations of what really constitutes conflicts. Therefore, as societies and people interact, conflicts remain inevitable and as such it develops, and so also its definitions and explanations continue to evolve. Pankhurst (2003) explains that Conflict is a word often used loosely to mean many different things despite its long history in Social Science. Most types of social, political, and economic changes involve a conflict of some sort, and one could argue that many of the positive changes in world history have occurred as a result of the conflict just as it is being upheld by the Marxist school of thought.

However, Conflicts are unavoidable aspects of human interaction. They arise from the pursuit of divergent interests, goals and aspirations by individuals or groups. Changes in the socio–political environment provide fertile grounds for conflicts involving individuals and groups probably interested in using these conflicts to achieve their selfish goals. Therefore, the negative exploitation of communality and religion results into communal and religious conflicts. These often arise out of mistrust, hostility and polarization of relations among groups and at times in a competitive setting. Religious experiences are one of the most important experiences of mankind the world over, and every religion claims among other things, to be an agent of peace. Such claims seem to be true to some extent. That is why Asaju (1988:128) asserted that, “although, religious experiences differ, but one fact is that all people are affiliated to one Supreme Being, that is God who is worshipped under different names among different tribes of the world”. It is on these bases that the Nigerian constitution recognizes three religions and these religions are: Christianity, Islam and African Traditional Religion. The advent of the two religions rather made the indigenous religion to begin to recede to the background. As a result, most people (Nigerians) identify themselves as either Christians or Muslims.

For the sociologist, the main idea of conflict is that it is an intrinsic and inevitable aspect of social change. At the cultural level, conflicts occur between members of different cultures and members of the same culture who feel that cultural rules or norms are being violated, in the society also religious conflicts often occur because one religion might feel more superior than others or a religion might feel marginalized or looked down upon.   Thus, religious and other forms of sectarian struggles and conflicts are on the rise recently in Nigeria. The return of democracy with accompanying respect for fundamental human rights seemed to have unleashed all the tensions that have accumulated over the years. Of recent, deepest attachments have tended to shift more in favour of communal–based tendencies as religion and ethnic centrism occupies more space in the social and political landscape of the Nigerian society. This trend has been intensified and made more complicated by unpopular policies and bad governance in the past and even at this present time (Kukah, 1993).

In a bid to reduce the prevalence of conflicts and their associated consequences, studies were conducted at different levels. According to Chukwuma and Atelhe (2014) they explored the problem from ethnic sentiments and recommended the sensitization of stakeholders on the need for mutual co-existence while Blench (2004) discussed conflicts as rooted in poverty and the individual struggle for survival and his recommendations bordered around effective resource sharing policies. Serneels and Verpoorten, (2012) and Cerra and Saxena, (2008) identify emotional factors as responsible for conflicts. One of the many ways identified for preventing and resolving conflicts is the use of gatekeepers. Many Scholars have stressed the significant role of community leaders as gatekeepers in the resolution of conflicts in any community. Natsir and Hum (2014) upheld that involving gatekeepers is very paramount as a conflict resolution mechanism and should not be taken for granted because gatekeepers serve as the closest intermediary between the community and government.

In a nutshell, this research work aims at evaluating and assessing the significant role of community gatekeepers as a mechanism(s) or tool of conflict resolution during the Kasuwan Magani Crisis in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

1.1       Statement of the Problem

Kaduna State has witnessed incessant communal, ethnic and religious conflicts, where several communities‟ picked up arms against each other in a bid to further pursue their interests. This has resulted in the loss of lives and property. Thus, Kajuru Local Government Area which borders Chikun Local Government Area (that is part of the Four Local Government Councils that made up the Kaduna Metropolis) has also been affected by this urgly menace that ranges from religious, ethnic, political and recently the Herdsmen and Farmers conflicts. Successive governments in Kaduna State have over this period taken measures aimed at addressing the challenges of communal, ethnic and religious conflicts but these killings have continued to occur and reoccur unabatedly (Abdul, 2013). To reduce the killings and destructions of properties scholars have buttressed the importance of information control through the community gatekeepers. However, the traditional rulers, ethnic and opinion leaders (gatekeepers) whom the government relied on as negotiator or facilitators for conflict prevention seem to have failed. The gatekeepers are conceptualized as proxies of their communities, hence they can decide what information should move to a group and what information should not for conflict prevention.

Hence, this study focuses on unraveling the important role played by community gatekeepers in the resolution and prevention of conflict in Kajuru Local Government Area in particular and Kaduna State in general.

1.2       Objectives of the Study

The main objective of the study is focused on the role of community gatekeepers in peace and conflict management with reference to Kasuwan Magani Community as a case study.

 Other specific objectives are to:

  1. Identify the qualities of the gatekeeper.
  2. Examine the adequacy of gatekeepers in crime prevention or resolution.
  3. Find out the strategies of gatekeepers.
  4. Identify the role of gatekeepers in conflict resolution and prevention.
  5. Ascertain the perceptions of the community members towards their gatekeepers.

1.3       Research Questions

In order to guide the research work, the following research questions were formulated from the objectives of the study:

  1. What are the qualities of the gatekeeper?
  2. What is the adequacy of gatekeepers in crime prevention or resolution?
  3. What are the strategies of gatekeepers?
  4. What are the roles of gatekeepers in conflict resolution and prevention?
  5. How can the perceptions of the community members be ascertained towards their gatekeepers?

1.4       Assumption/ Proposition of the Study

The following assumptions were adopted for the research

  1. That gatekeepers try their best to prevent and resolve conflicts
  2. That gatekeepers receive information about potential crises situation
  3. That gatekeepers are chosen based on reputation
  4. That some gatekeepers are impose on the community

1.5     Significance of the Study

This research work is significant in various ways; first and foremost this research will help in reawakening the minds of Nigerians on the important role gatekeepers play in conflict prevention and resolution in the community. Teachers, students and researchers of sociology and history in Nigerian schools will find the project benefiting to them as it furnishes them with current information on the strategy of gatekeepers in resolving conflicts. The project shall be useful to politicians and political leaders in decision-making on issues that affects conflict resolution, prevention and management. It will also help and be a valuable source of academic and policy material on the existing body of knowledge on the subject of peace and conflict management in Nigeria.

1.6       Scope of the Study

The scope of this study on the assessment and evaluation of the role of community gatekeepers in the task of preventing and resolving conflicts in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

 

Click to: DOWNLOAD @ NGN5,000/USD20

 

Loading