Abstract:
This study investigates the community participation of the schools
where the Programme of School Improvement (PSI) is being
implemented in Sri Lanka. In particular, this study aims at exploring the
nature of community participation in schools. Questionnaires, document
surveys and interviews were employed to gather information from
principals, deputy principals, teaching staff, parents and past pupils on
the governing boards of PSI schools. Descriptive statistical tools and
thematic analytical technique were employed to analyze data. Majority
of parents and past pupils indicated that the principals and the internal
community members of schools are not enthusiastic to welcome ideas,
suggestions and criticisms of external community members for the
school development. Most of the participant stated that it is not being
implemented an effective programme to aware stakeholders about PSI.
Majority of Deputy Principals, teachers and parents said that the
selections of the members for the governing boards of schools are
negatively influenced by the principal. Therefore, the decision making
process is not democratic and transparent. The study revealed that the
community participation has not been facilitated by a clear, sufficient,
and effective mechanism in the school. Although PSI policy encourages
greater community participation it has not been necessarily enhanced
community participation in the schools. However, it has fairly enhanced
the participation of internal community for the school decisions rather
than external community.
