THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS IN PROMOTING LIFELONG LEARNING IN SABAH

Abstract

This paper presents the teenagers’ perception on the effectiveness of Parent-Teacher Association among rural secondary school of Sabah in promoting the idea of lifelong learning. Specifically, it discusses whether the Parent-Teacher Association of rural secondary school in Sabah, Malaysia has been effectively promoting the lifelong education for the sake of their teenagers and also to examine what exactly are the factors associates with the efficacy of Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) in promoting lifelong learning of rural areas in the state of Sabah in Malaysia. Information were gathered using a set of survey questionnaire. In this study, 100 teenagers (secondary school students) were chosen as the respondents with a median age of 14. In general, the study reveals that the Parent-Teacher Association of the rural secondary school have been effectively promoting the idea of lifelong learning, but never progressed any substantial influence greater than the society of a school. Nevertheless, this reveals that the Parent-Teacher Association could be one of the best organizations having high capability in promoting lifelong learning in this country. Hence, it is essential for each school to make their own effective Parent-Teacher Association and offer training to the members or even their leaders especially on the field of leadership, activities management and organization management. The leadership skills, activities management skills and organization skills are the factors associated with the Parent-Teacher Association level of effectiveness in promoting the lifelong learning agendas.