Decentralisation Policy and Practice in Ghana: The Promise and Reality of Community Participation in Education in Rural Communities

Autor/inn/en	Essuman, Ato; Akyeampong, Kwame
Titel	Decentralisation Policy and Practice in Ghana: The Promise and Reality of Community Participation in Education in Rural Communities
Quelle	In: Journal of Education Policy, 26 (2011) 4, S.513-527 (15 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0268-0939
Schlagwörter	Community Involvement; Governance; Educational Change; Rural Areas; Foreign Countries; Case Studies; Educational Policy; Political Influences; Educational Improvement; Ghana + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Education; Educational policy; Financing; Steuerung; Bildung; Erziehung; Bildungspolitik; Finanzierung; Bildungsreform; Rural area; Ländlicher Raum; Ausland; Case study; Fallstudie; Case Study; Politics of education; Political influence; Politischer Einfluss; Teaching improvement; Unterrichtsentwicklung
Abstract	In 1987, the government of Ghana embarked on a process to decentralise education management to districts as part of wider social and democratic governance reforms. A central part of this reform was the prescription of active community participation in the affairs of schools within their locality. This paper explores the different meanings community participation had for school community stakeholders. It examines the multiple understandings of how community and school relations work and the factors which influence this relationship. Drawing on case study data, it argues that much of the theoretical and policy expectations on representation and participation in education by community members are only evident in form, but not as intended in practice. In poor rural contexts, it is often the local elite and relatively more educated members of the community, who become the new brokers of decision-making and, through their actions, close up the spaces for representation and participation by community members in the affairs of schools. Furthermore, the extent of community participation appears to be shaped by a "social contract" based on the principle of reciprocity of roles between the community and schools, and that increasingly teachers feel accountable to the traditional hierarchical educational structure, and not to the community. The paper argues that the realisation of decentralisation policy in education has to contend with the realities of local politics of influence in the community, and tap into the positive side of this influence to improve education service delivery. (Contains 4 notes.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10