Role of parent’s teachers association in enhancing discipline in secondary schools in Makeni City, Northern Sierra Leone

Abstract

Despite the Government effort of ensuring community direct involvement and ownership of development projects in their locality such as education, the extent of parents input in students discipline through the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) remains obscure in many secondary schools. This study was to determine the role of Parents Teachers Association (PTA) in enhancing discipline in Public Secondary Schools in Makeni City, Northern Sierra Leone. The study was guided by four research questions that investigated the following aspects: The activities of PTA in enhancing students‟ discipline, the extent to which PTA role enhances discipline, the challenges facing PTA in students discipline management and suggestions on how the PTA can be more effective in enhancing discipline. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies with a cross-sectional survey and phenomenological design. The target population consisted of 4 Government assisted public secondary schools, principals, discipline masters, PTA members, class teachers, and all students of the 4 public secondary schools in Makeni City. The sample size consisted of 4 principals, 4 discipline masters, 36 class teachers, 36 PTA members and 160 students. Data was collected by use of interview guides, questionnaires, and document analysis guide, which were personally administered by the researcher. Quantitative data was analyzed in frequencies and percentages using SPSS version 20, while qualitative data was organized into themes and analyzed descriptively. Conclusions and recommendations were made based on the findings there of.