The role of school-community partnership in promoting inclusive and quality education in schools

Abstract

This study investigated the role of school community partnership in promoting inclusive and quality education. The study was conducted at two primary schools in the Mankweng Circuit in Limpopo Province. Schools in Mankweng operate without guidelines regarding how to collaborate with the community to promote issues of inclusivity and quality education. The study followed a qualitative approach with a case study research design. The study population consisted of 38 participants made up of school governing body members, community leaders and school management teams. Purposive sampling was used to select three participants from each of the two schools, making a total sample size of six. Data was collected through individual interviews. A thematic approach was employed to analyse the data, by way of identifying themes emerging from the interviews. The results of the study reveal that the school management team did not involve the community because it was assumed that the community lacked knowledge on issues of education. The school management teams found it difficult to work with some community members due to their level of education. The study recommends that training should be made available to educate the community about school-community partnership to promote inclusive and quality education.