Dissertation (MA Education)
This dissertation is a result of an exploration of community support in the implementation of Fee-Free Education(FFE) strategies in public primary schools. It is built within three themes, namely the extent the communities are involved in the implementation of Fee-Free Education in public primary schools of Kakonko District, the diversions of success in the implementation of FFE in public primary schools of Kakonko District, and the setbacks of community support in the implementation of FFE in public primary schools of Kakonko District. The research was informed by the Open System Theory coupled with a self-developed conceptual framework. A multiple case study design with the qualitative approach was employed to generate data through in-depth interviews, FGDs with 49 informants. Documentary reviews were also done. The informants were 5 headteachers, 28 class teachers, 5 school committee leaders, 1 District Education Officer, 5 Ward Education Officers, and 5 Village Executive Officers. Data were subjected to qualitative analyis. The analysis revealed that a few community members contributed to schools development, and only one school had received local building materials,like stones, sand and bricks from the community.A majority of the community members were committed to monitoring pupils’ learning through school community associations. Further, the community members provided all scholastic needs to school children, and a majority of them supported school feeding programmes. Further, all schools had a shortage of classrooms, textbooks, and teachers. A majority of the schools had no tap water, incinerators and changing rooms for girls while only one school met the national standards ratio of toilets for students. However, teaching and learning materials were satisfactorily availability in all schools. The key issues that lingered community support in implementing FFE are socio-cultural practices, economic status, and political issues. The study recommends the government to inform the community about the importance of education and school-communities partnership,example by providing manpower, and food to pupils.The government should also increase the education budget,teachers, water, incinerators and changing rooms for girls.