PTA and School

Written as and assignment for IGNOU B.Ed (Second Year) for the question given below:
While teaching in a school, you must have interacted or convened meeting with Parent Teachers Association and community. On the basis of that interactions/meeting prepare action plan where by you can reflect the involvement of PTA / Community in school improvement.

Introduction
Parent Teachers Associations are voluntary organisations of the school staff and parents which work to support the particular school in a wide variety of ways. The function of PTA not only involves in the development of students but also involves itself in the improvement and development of the school. The school - community partnership, especially in villages of India, results in building strong societies, which directly attributes in the development of the nation in all aspects, as guiding, recognising and building the necessary infrastructure of students through coordinated efforts of community – teachers partnership helps in developing good citizens, the basic building block of the nation.

Objectives of PTA
The objectives of PTA as defined by Department of School Education, Government of Tamilnadu states in its website are: “to develop good relationship and better co-operation between the parents and the teachers; to guide the students for their improvements in social, economic, cultural and educational activities; to develop leadership among students; to give necessary assistance to the parents and teachers to publish literary magazines, organizing cultural, library meetings etc.”

The Role of PTA
The main role of the PTA is building strong relationship among parents, teachers and schools. Finding volunteers, recognising achievements by presenting awards, organizing educational events, appreciating achievements of teachers, can be some activities of PTA and it is not limited to similar activities alone.

The PTA also raise fund at times when the management is in short of its finance to meet the necessary expenses like paying an ad hock appointment of teacher or large amount for constructing an expansion of building. Even when the school is government funded, there arises situation where the government will not be able to provide fund immediately because of budget shortage. For example, the local community wants the school to be upgraded from secondary to higher secondary, where the government agrees principally to upgrade and it do not have the budgetary allocation for that particular school, the PTA can extend its helping hand by organising the finance necessary for this upgrade.

Agenda of PTA Meetings
Varieties of educational issues are discussed in the PTA meetings. Teachers may communicate to the parents about common student discipline issues. The PTA may organise experts to talk on developing soft skills, or current trend in employment opportunity, or career building and selecting the career or informative discussions on school reforms. It also acts as a forum to discuss concerns about homework or changes in the school curriculum or method of teaching. The PTA also resolves conflicts that may arise between teacher and student or teacher and parent.

Important discussions are held when the management is in financial crisis or new financial resolutions are to be committed. When in crisis, the mode of arranging the required finance is decided in the meetings.

PTA of GHSS, Ammandivilai – A Brief Note
Ammandivilai is a small village where the school is located and it serves the educational need of more than 2000 families in the surrounding of 5 kilo meter radius. Students from Ammandiviali, Thivandakottai, Satanvilai, Mavilai, Kataikadu, Pottalkuzhi, Muttom, Friday Market (Velleichanthai), Vellamodi, and other neighbouring villages study in the school. Mr. Krishnasamy Aasan as President and Mr. O. Muragan as Secretary hold the office undisputed for a long period. Together, they and the committee have accomplished several improvements to the school. Find below the recording of some of the PTA meetings held along with the action plan, responsibilities and timelines determined for the action.

I. Establishing a new building to hold science laboratory
Year after year the strength of the school was increasing and there was a necessity to shift the science laboratory (physical science, chemical science and life science) to more sophisticated and large building. The PTA discussed this with the Headmaster of the school and found that the government was not having the budget for constructing a new building in the next few years. For the benefit of the students, PTA took the responsibility of constructing the new building.
Action Plan: The following action points were decided in the meeting:
1. The PTA will approach the MP and MLA of the constituency and get the allocation fund from their respective Constituency Development Fund.
2. Members from all major political parties to be included to form a committee with the responsibility get the allocation form the MP and MLA. The total cost estimated was around Rs. 20 Lakhs.
3. The committee should also explore the possibility of getting the fund from Government – people participatory program called “Namakku Naame Thittam”.
4. In case the amount allotted by the MP and MLA were insufficient to meet the requirement, PTA shall conduct a raffle, sell tickets through members of PTA, old students who are in good positions, and the villagers benefited by the school.
Responsibility and timeline: The committee was chaired by Mr. C. Rajagopal and he voluntarily accepted the responsibility to raise the fund required for the building the laboratory before the academic year 2001-2002. Though delayed by a year, the estimate got escalated by Rs. 25 Lakhs and the allocated fund by the MP and MLA were in short, therefore the committee approached philanthropic entrepreneurs and businessmen in the locality to meet the extra money required. The raffle was dropped following opposition from many members and administrative reasons. Also, the PTA members and MLA were able to convince the local administration for getting the Government participate by equally financing with the money collected by the people through “Namakku Naame Thittam”.

II. Purified drinking water system
Students were drinking water from an overhead tank at the school. In the wake of health awareness, students and parents insisted having safe and pure drinking water for the school. Parents approached the PTA if the purified drinking system can be installed from the fund available with PTA. Among the members, a member suggested that the Rotaract Club can be approached for getting the system as a donation.
Action plan: Mr. V. Padmanaban, the Rotaract Club member from the PTA was entrusted to arrange a meeting with the club’s President and invite him to visit the school premises to preside over for Literary Association Meeting. Earlier he should explain the President the requirement of purified drinking water system and ask the president to announce the donation of purified drinking water system.
Responsibility and timeline: Mr. V. Padmanaban assumed the responsibility for getting the purified drinking water system as donation to the school and committed six months for installing it. He accomplished the job successfully and ascertaining the usefulness of the club, the Headmaster of the school sought membership with Rotaract Club.

III. TNPCEE summer coaching class
Students approached the Headmaster if the teachers can offer coaching for Tamilnadu Professional Course Entrance Examination (TNPCEE). Unable to convince his teachers to conduct summer coaching class, at this juncture, the Headmaster sought the help of PTA. The PTA convened the meeting on how to proceed with this request. (Prior to the abolishment of TNPCEE by the Government of Tamilnadu, the school conducted coaching class during the summer vacation.)
Action plan:
1. Every year by December, the volunteer trainers has to be identified from the unemployed youth or willing teachers to coach Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology and general knowledge on current affairs, historical events, numerical ability, etc.
2. The identified volunteers have to prepare the training materials and solutions for previous years TNPCEE questions.
3. Preparation of training calendar based on the announcement of the examination dates for TNPCEE by Anna University.
4. They also have to prepare question papers for mock examinations.
5. All the candidates selected for professional courses from the coaching class must be felicitated.
6. Arrange to gift the volunteers on the felicitation day.
Responsibility and timeline: Secretary holds the primary responsibility along with a committee to conduct the coaching class every year. He also has to find sponsors for printing the training materials and maintain strict timelines drawn by the Entrance Exam Coaching Committee. The timelines for the coaching are drawn by the committee every year.

IV. Ad hoc replacement for Mathematics teacher
When the Mathematics teacher for SSLC passed away suddenly, in the middle of the academic year, the students suffered a vacuum without a teacher. This was again referred to the PTA to help the students preparing for the public examination.
Action plan: The Secretary had to communicate with the DEO and CEO to seek quick appointment for the Mathematics teacher. The DEO had informed the Secretary that appointment or transfer of a teacher is ruled out, by they permitted ad hoc appoint of a teacher by PTA having no responsibility with the Department of Education.
Responsibility and timeline: The Secretary identified 2 persons, a young unemployed post-graduate woman and a retired Mathematics teacher, for the position. It was decided the unemployed woman would be appointed by PTA and by studying the performance and response form the students, PTA had the rights to discontinue or continue his service. The ad hoc appointment shall continue till the regular appointment by the school authorities, and shall have a remuneration package offered by the PTA, with no remuneration during the summer vacation.
V. Career Guidance Meetings
At least two to three meetings were conducted by the PTA by inviting eminent personals, old students who hold his positions in public service or private companies to give motivational speech to the students about opportunities in their field and the current trend in educational and employment that will help students and their parents to choose the educational path to design their own/wards career.
Action plan:
1. The Secretary and the President should contact the eminent personals like District Collector, Superintend of Police and similar IAS officers, scientist at ISRO and DAE and invite them to the school to give speech and organise student interaction events.
2. They also should find old students who have achieved in their respective field, for an interactive question and answer session, as it will have a better impact over the students.
Responsibility and timeline: The Secretary has to interact with the public and know their interests and then prepare a list of people to be invited for the career guidance interaction. The PTA would shortlist the list based on the priority of choice by the members. The meeting shall be organised based on the availability of the person concerned after September and before February for each academic year.

Conclusion
The PTA is a common platform for bringing the teachers and parents to a better understanding of handling student related and school development issues. As parents get directly involved, the school administration feel more responsible in executing the curricular and extra-curricular activities. Also, the school management do not feel handicapped with the tight financial position in the case for infrastructure development. The teachers and parents partnership definitely is very useful for the development of the school as well as the community.