International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN: 2319-7064 SJIF (2019): 7.583 Volume 10 Issue 1, January 2021 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY Community Participation in School Education Manoj Kumar Assistant Professor, Doranda College Ranchi, India Email: ask4manoj[at]gmail.com Abstract: Kothari commission (1964-66) focused on need of decentralization of school education and involvement of parents and local bodies in the processes of improvement of school. . NPE 1986 emphasised primarily on decentralized planning and management of Primary education. A report (1992) was submitted by Veerappa Moily to the government of India on decentralization of educational planning ensuring greater community participation in education. National Curriculum Framework (2005) also emphasized to encourage community participation as a means of enhancing quality education. There is a provision to constitute school management committees in RTE act 2009. This paper focuses on policy and practices of community participation in the school education after independence in India. It also focuses on international scenario of community participation in the school education. It also identifies some problems for proper functioning of school committees. Suggestions are given to improvement of proper function of school committees. Keywords: Community Participation 1. Introduction Most educationists around the world have been striving hard to attain the goals of quality education through parents and community participation in school. Kothari commission (1964-66) focused on need of decentralization of school education and involvement of parents and local bodies in the processes of improvement of school. NPE 1986 emphasised primarily on decentralized planning and management of Primary education. Village Committees were further strengthened with the support of Programme of Action (POA) in 1992. In 1992, the 73 rd and 74 th constitutional amendments provided a basic framework of decentralization of powers and authorities to the Panchayati Raj at different levels. A report (1992) was submitted by Veerappa Moily to the government of India on decentralization of educational planning ensuring greater community participation in education. National Curriculum Framework (2005) also emphasized to encourage community participation as a means of enhancing quality education. There is a provision to constitute school management committees in RTE act 2009. Report of “save the children” (2013) also emphasised the importance of community participation in the school education. Role of Parents and Community and its participation in school education have been visualized as an important role in all policy initiatives at national as well as international levels. This paper focuses on policy and practices of community participation in the school education after independence in India. It also focuses on international scenario of community participation in the school education. It also identifies some problems for proper functioning of school committees. Suggestions are given to improvement of proper function of school committees. 2. Concept of Community Participation Community refers to a group of people from a common geographic area, caste, sex, religion. According to word bank (1999), Communities can be defined by characteristics that the members share, such as culture, language, tradition, law, geography, class, and race. Participation can be referred in various ways depending on the context that clarifies different level of participation such as participation in „real decision making at every stage, attendance at meeting, services etc. According Mark Bray (2000), a community has at least some features such as: a network of shared interests and concerns; a symbolic or physical base; extension beyond the narrowly-defined household; and something that distinguishes it from other similar groups. Community participation in education helps to identify issues and problems in school education. School is a part of community and community supports school to give quality education to every student for the development of the society. According to Tanka Nath Sharma (2008), Community participation and involvement follows as First, the community should have an access to be in the school, learn about the school and observe what goes on in school. Second step would be to make community aware of the situation and make them realize the importance of their involvement in schools where their children are receiving education. Third step would be involvement in the management process of the school where their children are learning, they will be ready to get into the process of involvement. Fourth step would be decision making and be a part of school governance. Community participation is a concept that attempts to bring different people together for community problem solving and decision making. Community participation is a way to take responsibility and accountability, to identifying the problem, to design and implement programme for the development of the society. Its members include from different groups, caste, religion, and sex etc. 3. Dimension of Community Participation in Education Look after School Building and Maintenance and Facilities School community member has aresponsibility to monitor proper maintenance of the building and other infrastructure facilities such as garden, boundary wall, and availability of Paper ID: SR201224191731 DOI: 10.21275/SR201224191731 1245