Community Participation in Socio-Economic Development through Secondary Education in one of the Remotest Regions of Pakistan

Abstract

This research study was designed to find out the role of community participation in Socio-economic development through secondary education in one of the remotest regions in Pakistan. The objectives of study were to investigate to what extent the community is involved in dissemination of secondary education in public sector, to find out the benefits of community involvement in secondary education, to unpack the issues and challenges faced by teachers due to lack of community participation and to stumble on the character of education in socio-economic development of Baltistan region. Researcher used stratified sampling technique. There are six tehsils in district Skardus i.e. Skardu, Gamba Skardu, Gultari, Kharmang, Shigar and Rondu. To give representation to wide spread geographic region of the Skardu District, these Tehsils were divided into two groups. The group 1 was comprised of Skardu, Gamba Skardu and Roundu while the remaining three Tehsils (Gultari, Kharmang, Shigar) were put into group 2. Seventeen institutions were taken as sample of the study from six Tehsils of the Skardu District formed 44.7% of available 38 Public Sector Secondary Schools in Skardu. Two teachers and the head teacher were contacted for the purpose of data collection from each sample school. Opinion of 13 community notables was also sought through structured interview. The data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics, chi square and percentage methods. On the basis of findings it was concluded that majority teachers and head teachers of secondary schools viewed that the community participation is necessary part of education, majority of teachers, head teachers and community notables viewed that the main reasons of lack of community / parents participation are illiteracy, unawareness and busy life due to economic pressure, all respondents’ teachers, head teachers and community notables have supported the statement that the parent’s active participation can enhance the student’s achievements, and all respondent have responded that Education plays a vital role in socio-economic development of the society. The recommendations of the study included that there is great need to make aware the parents about the importance of their participation in child’s educational achievement, raise awareness about the relation between school and community, repeated contacts and meetings with the SMC members, conduct of seminars, workshops can play a vital role for the development of community participation in education, community members can invite in co-curricular activities like Parent’s days, cleanliness weeks, and prize distribution ceremonies and national and Islamic events, there may be a counseling center in school where counseling of students may be conducted and parents and community members may also be invite, through community involvement it can be possible to make more and more registration of children in the school, and  media both print and electronic is also an effective source through which community can be motivated to participate in education