SCHOOL COMMUNITY SYNERGY AND EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN PUBLIC SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OBIO-AKPOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF RIVERS STATE

Abstract

This study seeks to examine the extent of school-community synergy in secondary schools in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. The study had two (2) research questions that were analyzed based on the responses provided by the respondents. The populations of the study were 21 principals and 42 vice-principals (21 Vice-Principal Administration and 21 Vice-Principal Academy) which gave a total of 63 respondents. The study adopted the Census sampling technique. Mean and standard deviation was used to answer the research questions. Findings showed that the respondents agreed that Parents Teachers Association (P.T.A), Old Students Association (Alumni), Board of Governors and Voluntary Concerned Agencies/Groups are agencies of school-community synergy involved in school development in public senior secondary schools in Obio-Akpor LGA. The findings also revealed that a good school-community synergy promote school development in public senior secondary schools in Obio-Akpor LGA to a high extent. The study therefore, recommended among others that the ministries of education both the state and the federal should be able to conduct periodic seminars to sensitize the school administrators on the need for the school to relate well with the community. The school administrators should cultivate the habit of constantly relating with the community, carrying the community along with the current development in the school, regularly visiting the community council of elders, also identifying the need and aspirations of the community and inputting the essential and ethical ones into the school curriculum.