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Available Online at http://www.recentscientific.com International Journal of CODEN: IJRSFP (USA) Recent Scientific International Journal of Recent Scientific Research Research Vol. 9, Issue, 5(G), pp. 26954-26958, May, 2018 ISSN: 0976-3031 DOI: 10.24327/IJRSR Research Article FUNCTIONING OF SCHOOL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AT ELEMENTARY LEVEL Venkateswar Meher*1 and Iswar Patel2 1Department of Education G.M. University, Sambalpur, Odisha, India 2Department of Education, Dr. PMIASE, Sambalpur, Odisha, India DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijrsr.2018.0905.2157 ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article History: The present study investigates the functioning of SMC in elementary schools of Jharsuguda district. Received 10th February, 2018 The main purposes of the study were to investigate the present status and functioning of SMC in Received in revised form 6th elementary levels of Jharsuguda and to find out the problems faced by the SMC members in their March, 2018 smooth functioning. This study was delimited to the elementary schools of Jharsuguda district and Accepted 24th April, 2018 the functioning part of SMC in those schools. For this study, descriptive survey method was Published online 28th May, 2018 employed. For this study, 30 elementary schools were selected from Jharsuguda district by adopting stratified random sampling procedure, out of which 15 from urban and 15 from rural areas. In order Key Words: to collect data from the sample groups self-made open-ended questionnaires were prepared and administered before the SMC members of selected elementary schools. The obtained data was School Management Committee, teacher analysed through simple percentage technique. Finally, it was found that in all elementary schools absenteeism, scholastic and non-scholastic SMC was constituted and it was functioning properly covering their aspects. activities, school development plan, Mid- Day-Meal scheme. Copyright © Venkateswar Meher and Iswar Patel, 2018, this is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. INTRODUCTION provision of community. For realizing the goal of Universalization of Elementary Education (UEE) under SSA, Education is a powerful tool that plays a vital role in improving Govt. Of India laid emphasis on free and compulsory education the socio-economic conditions of any nation. It empowers for all the children belonging to the age group of 6 to 14 and citizen with analytic abilities that lead to better confidence and finally in the year 2009, an Act entitled “Right of Children to fortifies one with power and goal setting competencies. Free and Compulsory Education (RCFCE)” for free and Education improves not only text book learning but also compulsory education in India. This act was passed in the develops values, skills and capacities. This helps individuals to parliament for achieving the goals of SSA. Finally, in order to plan for their career as well as plays a useful part in building a achieve the goals of universalization of elementary education new society with progressive values. Elementary education is (UEE), the School Management Committee (SMCs) has been the foundation of the pyramid of the education system. constituted in all elementary schools as mentioned in RTE Act, Stemming from provisions enshrined in the directive principles th 2009. The followings are the related literatures of the present of state policy and the 86 amendment in the Constitution of study. India, Universalization of Elementary Education (UEE) has been one of the most important goals of education developed in Mehralizadeh et al. (2003) studied roles and functioning of India since independence and created a tremendous awareness village education committee and school management and among the masses regarding the importance of elementary development committee in Karnakata with special reference of education. The Sarva Shikhya Abhiyan (SSA) has brought Dharwad district and observed that there was wide gap between elementary to the doorsteps of millions of children and enrolled the performance by the school betterment committee and them including first generation learners, through fast track village education committee members. Roles and functions initiative in either to unserved and underserved habitations. were not known to all members. However, they concluded that SSA is an effort to universalise elementary education by there was gestation period of few years, a phase of trial and community ownership of the school system. The SSA error experimentation process of SMDC to gain root. Anton programme is also an attempt to provide an opportunity for (2005) studied improving the quality of education through improving human capacities to the poorest children through the School-Based - Management: Learning from international *Corresponding author: Venkateswar Meher Department of Education G.M. University, Sambalpur, Odisha, India Venkateswar Meher and Iswar Patel., Functioning of School Management Committee At Elementary Level experiences and found that school-based - management is being Research Questions increasing advocated as shortcut to more efficient management Taking into consideration of the above needs of the study the and quality improvements in education. Teron (2012) studied following research questions were emerged in the mind of the the functioning of school management committee in Golaghat investigator i.e. district of Assam and found that SMCs were formed as per the guidelines, regular meetings were conducted, training was 1. What steps SMC take to monitor school health imparted to SMC members regarding their roles and functions programmes, mid - day meal scheme etc. Properly? and SMCs were serious about their meetings. Rout (2014) 2. What steps SMC take to enrol the non-enrolled children? conducted a case study on the functioning of school 3. What steps SMC take to promote the achievement of management committee in rural elementary schools and he enrolled children? found that the SMC discharged its roles actively for achieving 4. What steps SMC take to reduce the dropout rate of the universal enrolment by checking the attendance and schools? absenteeism of the learners. It also showed interest in 5. What steps SMC take to minimize the absenteeism of developing the infrastructures by communicating the teachers? authorities regarding different avenues of infrastructures and 6. What steps SMC take to maintain school properties and the SMC had utilized the allotted funds in proper means so as amenities properly? to develop the system. Kumar (2016) conducted a case study 7. What steps SMC take to create awareness among the on the roles and functioning of school management committee community population about the rights of children? of government middle schools in district Kullu of Himachal 8. What steps SMC take to beautify school environment? Pradesh. He found that SMC have been given higher 9. What steps SMC take to prepare school development responsibilities and functions as cent percent enrolment, plan? enrolment out of children, retention till completion of 10. What are the problems faced by the members of SMC in elementary education, monitoring of school activities and implementing different programmes in schools? preparation of school development plans. Parvaiz et al. (2016) Objectives of the Study examined the impact of school management committee on school management at elementary level in district Jhang and The objectives of the present study were found that school management committees were working to To study the proper functioning of SMC at elementary schools solve the problems, further school council decisions were not in terms of : being implemented accordingly. 1. Enrolment of non-enrolled children and their retention. Rationale of the Study 2. Retention and achievement of enrolled children. School Management Committee (SMC) performs different 3. Reduction of dropout rate of schools. functions for the overall development of elementary schools. It 4. Absenteeism of teachers. monitors both scholastic and non-scholastic activities, mid-day 5. Monitoring school health programme meal schemes, health programmes etc. Apart from these, SMC 6. Monitoring mid-day - meal also studies the dropout of children and teachers’ absenteeism 7. Creation of awareness about community rights and works for enrolling the non - enrolled children and their 8. Maintenance of school property and amenities. retention. SMC also maintains the school amenities and 9. Beautification of school environment properties and creates awareness among the community 10. Preparation of school development plans population about the rights of children. The present study is To study the problems faced by the SMC members towards the helpful for planning and chalking out different intervention smooth functioning of the schools. strategies so that the functioning of SMCs in elementary schools can be strengthened. The present study is also helpful Delimitation of the study for identifying the awareness level of SMC members regarding The present study was delimited to the functioning part of their roles and responsibilities in promoting Universalization of School Management Committee (SMSc) at Elementary level. Elementary Education, because until and unless, the SMC The present study was delimited to the elementary schools of members are not aware about their responsibilities, the success Jharsuguda district